BY: Jodee Brown
Far and wide, Jamaica has produced some of the most beautiful and charismatic television hosts around, raging from the local airwaves to North America.
As a young Jamaican journalist myself, I’ve always been infatuated by the the lovely ladies that have presented in front of our TV screens and on our radio station, and it’s not just because I’m a guy and love to see and hear beautiful women, but because of the intellect and elegance with which they present their material. Quite frankly, they make you want to pay more attention to the show, even if it’s not your cup of tea.
Having created this list the last two years, I received a lot of positive feedback from some of the women featured on it. This time round, we decided to tweak it a little bit, including women who aren’t only born or based in Jamaica, but those based elsewhere with Jamaican roots. Additionally, the list entails media personalities who are currently regulars on TV or radio. But before we get to that, the honourable mentions:
Honourable Mentions
Rachel Stuart – No list mentioning Jamaican beauties in media can leave off the legendary Jamaican-Canadian presenter who was the long-time host of BET’s Caribbean-themed video countdown show, Caribbean Rhythms as well as Island Stylee, an award-winning inflight program under the Air Jamaica umbrella. She now reportedly lives in Washington D.C. with her husband, Paxton Baker, the executive vice president and general manager of Centric.
Emily Crooks – A long time host on Nationwide 90FM as well as an occasional host on TVJ, she raised eyebrows with her opinions, as well as her stunning looks.
Lauren Dunn – Former host of BETJ (now Centric) show, Wick’d Style while also hosting shows on RETV and her own Lauren O Lauren (LOL) show, the outspoken Dunn possesses many attributes, both figure and personality-wise that have made her standout in her industry in recent years.
Other notable mentions: Ashley Miller and Talia Soares (Host of TVJ’s Intense), Keriann Lee (known for hosting TVJ’s Business Day on TVJ’s Prime Time News), Kamila Mcdonald-Alcock, long-time broadcast journalist, known for her spell at CVM Sunrise and Maia Chung (Host of CEEN Caribbean News and CVM Sunrise).
Now on to the list…
Photo credit – Jamaica Gleaner
10. Krystal Tomlinson – Tomlinson has shot up the ranks in Jamaican media in recent years, hosting across several platforms, including a stint as the host of TVJ’s cooking program, Nyammings and currently hosts numerous features on RETV.
Tomlinson is natural beauty personified, with a bubbly personality and good sense of humour and is very multi-talented, as proven last year when she took home the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen title, showcasing her acting and poetic skills in the process. No doubt, she due for bigger and better things going forward.
Photo credit – Facebook
9. Ramona Samuels – With a sizzling Latin name, Ramona Samuels hails as an ebony princess with a royal touch on the microphone. Renowned as a voice over specialist, Samuels has managed to sound sexy in British, French, Russian and Spanish for advertisements, making you want to hear anything that comes out of her mouth, even if it’s in a foreign language.
Not only has the multilingual beauty done advertisements for promoters locally, in the U.S. and even Australia but her infectious charm and seemingly flirtatious on-air persona resonated well while hailing as a presenter on RETV and SWAG TV. It’s safe to say that Samuels has viewers worldwide locked in at every possible opportunity when she’s on television. She currently is promoting her voice acting brand, The Voicebox, which has grown locally and in North America over the last year, so expect more sassy commercials done in a foreign language from her and her recruits in the near future.
Photo Credit : Instagram
8. Debbie Bissoon – Ever since TVJ added E-Prime to the Prime Time News package, the news has become more of intriguing and wide ranging. E-Prime’s presenter, Debbie Bissoon offers the most legitimate reasoning for why the segment’s become a success. Well-spoken, the kindest heart/soul imaginable and with the curves to match, Bissoon has done well on-air and her stock has been rising, thanks to her undeniable passion for anything Jamaican.
She also features prominently as a host on FAME FM and has proven to be a great for the big occasions, hosting shows recapping Reggae Sumfest, STING and The Voice recap show while Tessanne Chin was making her run to the talent show crown. The more of her, the better.
Photo credit: Tumblr
7. Patricia Jaggernauth – Now for one beauty based in my current neck of the woods, Toronto, and this drop-dead-gorgeous weather girl and host who has lit up the cameras of Canadian news network, CP24 for over three years.
Born in Canada to a Jamaican father and Guyanese mother, Jaggernauth has long been entrenched in her Caribbean and has never been shy to show these traits while doing her work. She is a weather girl on CP24, where’s she’s as flawless as it gets on the air. Furthermore, she has appeared on media outlets such as Much Music, CTV, MTV and host on the Emmy-winning digital television channel, BITE TV.
She’s also known as a dedicated fashionista with her PJ GlamGirl fashion line of dresses, jewelry and more. She certainly wears many hats in the media world and wears many beautiful outfits while doing it. Let’s hope she graces our beautiful island with her presence again like she did in January (pic above, to the right). Canadian television looks that much better when she’s on air.
Photo credit: Facebook
6. Shelly-Ann Weeks (AKA Dr. Sexy) – Usually when sex education shows are broadcast on TV or radio, they are hosted by older heads, in some cases, elderly women who, while they are quite knowledgeable on the subject, kind of making you feel awkward while watching or listening.
Enter Shelly-Ann Weeks, who’s sexy physical features perfectly fit the sexy features she highlights when she hosted her Dr. Sexy Live show on Nationwide 90FM. Her knowledge of sex, love and relationships is astounding and ability to connect with her largely young adult audience has made her a popular figure and some of that knowledge is now being shared on a daily morning show on New York-based radio station, Link Up Radio, as well as her YouTube page and website. Wouldn’t many love to be advised by her.
Photo credit: Instagram
5. Charm – CVM Hitlist became a fixture in the mid-2000s thanks the vibrant and sensual Amelia ‘Milk’ Sewell and, once she was gone, the odds seemed slim that they would find anyone capable of bringing the same energy and appeal that would keep the countdown program afloat.
Charm has done that and then some, with some of the most mesmerizing curves in the business and a unhinged energy that has eyeballs glued to the TV set anytime she’s on, especially wearing outfits like those pictured. The media diva also hosts the popular vox pop, Wat A Gwaan and is as real and engaging as they come.
Photo credit: Facebook
4. Yendi Phillips Now that she features on YouTube every now and again, her other figure will be on display for those unfamiliar with her to see.
A co-host on TVJ’s morning program, Smile Jamaica, Phillipps has improved leaps and bounds as an interviewer and presenter since she started delving into it seriously following her second place run at Miss Universe Jamaica, and has now proven herself to be a viable media mogul.
Her beauty and sex appeal are undeniable and she is certainly one of the staton’s more articulate presenters. Also having hosted in-flight features for Caribbean Airlines, she has proven her versatility and is sure to land more strong media gigs in the years to come.
Credit: Facebook/Instagram
3. Amita Webb – This former Miss Jamaica World contestant just has it all it seems: The perk, charm and figure fit for any runway.
This former Miss Jamaica World contestant just has it all it seems: The perk, charm and figure fit for any runway. Amita Webb does it all as the host of CVM’s FiWi Choice Top 10 countdown show, while also showcasing her radiant beauty in the occasional photo shoots, including the ones pictured here
Her appeal has made FiWi Choice arguably the most popular countdown program in Jamaica and could land her even greater media ventures down the line.
2. Alexis Nunes – Honestly, given that I live in Canada, I did not know anything about her until deciding to subscribe to CEEN, which shows programming from Jamaican sports station, Sportsmax and the show Sportsmax Zone, where she features as a co-host. Boy did my eyes bulge upon seeing her.
Shockingly attractive, with curves a man would drool over, Nunes has emerged as the Caribbean’s most stunning sports presenters and with her Latin American background, can awe you in both Spanish and English. She’s more than just a pretty face though, proving herself as a decent analyst while also hailing as a Manchester United fan and a huge fan of the English Premier League. She has also done work with Bacchanal Jamaica in the past.
Alexis Nunes es muy bonito.
Photo credit: Facebook
1. Yanique Barrett – There are not enough adjectives in the English language to describe this woman’s looks. Sexy, sassy, sultry, addictive and I can go on and on. Ever since her debut on Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall in 2012, when she danced on a roof top and sported a memorable beach ensemble while riding a boat, the public couldn’t get enough of Barrett.
From her unique sense of style to her quite outgoing persona, Barrett has become the next big thing in media locally, having proved it ever since her days as the host of CVM’s In The Dance program. Also co-hosting FAME FM’s E-Blaze, Barrett literally has been all over Jamaican television and radio while also voicing on several advertisements, hosting various events and owning her own clothing store at one point. Given her killer looks and various ambitions to match, the self-professed Curvaceous Diva is the hottest media personality with Jamaican roots alive.
LISA HANNA ?!?!?!?