Two Brownings helping to put Jamaica on the map

Tag : arts designing

And it seems Jamaicans are always under the scouts' radar as theyare constantly being recruited. At this August's staging of theevent, Jamaican-born actor Andrew Clarke was given a scholarship toenter the prestigious New York Film School. Last year Jamaicanmodel Onique Scott was named grand champion for the world and isnow signed to One Source Talent in New York. And one can hardlyforget Anna and Samantha Strachan who never failed to wow anaudience with their melodic voices. Today the sisters are stars intheir own right in Hollywood where they are now based.
Because now that people have seen what Jamaica has to offer, theirappetite is insatiable.
"Putting Jamaica on the world map is a big thing there, a lot ofpeople are interested in our culture so that what they have askedus to do as Jamaicans is to when we are coming, take local stuffand do a small exhibition to showcase Jamaica," Browning says.
She says that she and her sister are up for the challenge toshowcase Jamaica, but sponsorship remains one of their biggestproblems. This, as they are only sponsored by the CHASE Fund whichsometimes helps offset the cost for transportation to the event.They are also able to get sponsorship from international companiessometimes.
Besides that, those competing have to secure their own sponsorship,a difficult feat considering the fact that they are preparing for acompetition.

"We have a lot more persons who could go but sponsorship is aproblem, because the air fare is expensive, we have to findcostumes, we have to make blazers for them, because it is a veryuniformed and regulated event," she says.
The two sisters have had to a learn how to manage their time overthe years to ensure that they can commit to recruiting and doingthe necessary preparations for the grand event. This includestaking them to the US embassy to get their visas and designing andfitting costumes for the entrants.
"Initially it was just my sister and myself doing it, so we had allthe auditions in Kingston and everybody would have to come in, butbecause it was so difficult for everyone to commute and all that,scouts have been appointed to the various areas so we can have avariety of talents," she says.
Already two showcases are being planned for Montego Bay and OchoRios following the selection of talents who will represent Jamaicaat next year's event.
Next year, the sisters plan to introduce a few changes to ensurethat Jamaica remains the grand champion of the world, a title theyearned at this year's staging. Among other things, they hope tointroduce dub poetry and speech to the categories they are alreadyentering.

"We plan to be more aggressive for this year. It is beneficial tothe country on a whole because when we go there we take flyers andso on and so we promote Jamaica."