Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine October 2016 | Page 392

What has been some of
your biggest challenges
in that field so far and
how did you overcome
them?

It is so obvious that one of my
biggest challenges is that I am
so unique in who I am as an
individual. I cannot fit into any of
the current classifications as I do
not ascribe to classify myself. I am
who I am, which is the man that I
am. Therefore to try to classify me
into the current facets of what is
LGBTQ is very difficult therefore I
say I am there, but fall as LGBTQ
& V for Vincent at the end. Roles
for Transgender or cross dressing
males have been few and far
between, but as society begins to
acknowledge and recognise that
individuality is there whether
society cares to accept it or not
has always been a facet of my life.
Even in St.Lucia, I was ahead of
my time and have always been, in
terms of accepting that I am and
will always be very different from
the norm.

You are an inspiration
to many. Beautiful.
smart, chic, poised and
confident. What advice
can you give to others
who may be timid about
revealing their true
self for fear of being
shunned?
First piece of advice - you should
never make excuses to anyone
about who you are, that is a
fatal mistake. When you try to
make excuses for who you are,
it gives others the opportunity
to find flaws in you as a person.
It is essential that you surround
yourself with people who will be
accepting of you and remember
those that mind don’t matter, and

those that matter won’t mind. It
is always challenging to be an
individual, as society requires
that we always conform to their
norms. However if we were all
supposed to be the same wouldn’t
we all look and behave the same
way? It is always difficult as we
often need to seek acceptance in
some form or the oth er, however
self acceptance is the most
important and being unapologetic
for who you are is the first step
towards showing others that you
are comfortable in your own skin
and with who you have chosen to
be.
LETS TALK ABOUT ST.LUCIA.

What’s your favourite
place to visit when you
go to St. Lucia?

The town where I was born
Soufriere, home to the World
Heritage Site of the Pitons and the
worlds’ only drive in volcano, the
Sulphur Springs - so renowned for
its healing properties that King
Louis XIV of France constructed
mineral baths for his soldiers
to recuperate following battle.
The lush, green surrounding
mountains are indeed one of if not
the most beautiful place on earth.

What do you look
forward to doing the
most on your visits?

You may find this hard to believe
but I look forward to eating. St.
Lucian cuisine is so unique and
second to none, however our
delicacies need to be prepared
by our more seasoned chefs, like
our Mums and grandmothers
to get the authentic taste. I also
love bathing in the rivers and
exploring the numerous waterfalls
around the island. I also love
to spend time with my friends
many of whom I have had all my
life, catching up and building
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more long lasting memories.
Very important to me is also
detecting and sharing some of the
knowledge that I have with our
local up and coming designers,
and supporting and helping
them hone their craft. I also love
scouting the latest modelling
talent as we have so many natural
beauties on the island.

Do you have any
favourite restaurants?

One of my favourites is Koko
Cabana at the Coco Palm Resort
in Rodney Bay. They serve the
most amazing authentic St. Lucian
breakfast. I could sit and eat from
the buffet for hours, - not ideal for
the high fashion body but I cannot
resist. That is one of the places
where I love to grab a bite to eat
and I make it my duty to always
stop by a meal at least whenever I
am home.

If you were asked to
describe St. Lucia to
someone who has never
heard about the island,
what will you tell them?

It is a tropical paradise. Our
national anthem says it succinctly,
“... Land of beaches, hills and
valleys fairest isle of all the earth.”
St. Lucia has always been named
as one of the top 5 enchanted
islands in the world, and top
honeymoon destination by high
end fashion magazines. One
cannot adequately describe the
island’s natural beauty and the
beauty and friendliness of its
locals. Also described as one
of the most welcoming islands
in the Caribbean, you have to
visit to understand, as there is
no description that can really
encapsulate it. As a local and
someone born on the island I still
marvel at its perfection and beauty
as I drive around.