This being Jamaica’s 50^th year of independence, many of us expected lots of fireworks, chaos and the celebratory hoopla that comes along with such a significant anniversary. In the entertainment world, we got that and then some throughout 2012.

From triumph to tragedy, and the stuff in between, here are the 10 stories that gripped the Jamaican entertainment scene in 2012.

10. Deanna Robins reaches Miss World final: I won’t lie. In June, while watching the Miss Jamaica World pageant, I was home shouting my objection to the final results, thinking that Trishauna Clarke and not the eventual winner, Deanna Robins should have won the crown, mainly because of my bias towards Clarke given she’s a an old prep school classmate of mine. At the time I doubted Robins could deliver the goods on the Miss World stage. After her performance in China, it re-affirmed why I shouldn’t be allowed near a pageant judging panel.

Robins was the epitome of brains and beauty as not only did her beautiful skin tone ad angelic face win her plaudits, her dancing and sporting skills proved her all-round qualities. Not only did she represent ‘The Rock’ well, she excelled on the Miss World stage, earning a spot in the Top 7. Reminding me of a young Lisa Hanna, Robins was undeterred by the pressure and pulled off our best performance at a major pageant since Yendi Phillipps’ second-place finish at the 2010 Miss Universe pageant.

Her excellence made us proud and for that, I salute her.

9. Yendi and Chino have child together: Speaking of Yendi, she garnered attention for her belly more than the rest of her body in 2012. Phillipps received much praise and scrutiny when she announced her first pregnancy.

News of her first child with boyfriend and prominent Dancehall/Reggae star, Daniel ‘Chino’ McGregor brought lots of joy and congratulation to her life. However, Phillipps also faced tongue lashings from several detractors, including fans of her ex-boyfriend and former world-record holding runner, Asafa Powell.

Despite the trolling cartoons and the hateful messages, Phillipps was unmoved by the criticism. In late September, the Smile Jamaica co-host gave birth to a bouncing baby girl in late September. Reports of a possible engagement soon followed, but it’s clear that Yendi and Chino are now one of Jamaica’s power couples.

8. Deaths of Mighty Mike/Ewan McRae/Captain Barkey: With the joy of life comes the inevitable fate of death, and that sadly was realized in the case of three Jamaican entertainment veterans.