< Previous8 Wayne Kirkconnell and Craig ‘Festa’ Frederick had a vision of a carnival which would revolutionise the industry and create a new tourism product within Cayman’s low tourist season. From this vision was born CayMAS, first touching the road on Discovery Day weekend in 2017. “CayMAS Carnival is about giving the people the colour, the energy, the vibrance, the collectiveness, the inclusiveness, of our carnival,” says Craig. “We pride ourselves in being one of the most diverse carnivals in the world with our open-arms mentality. We want to give our masqueraders and onlookers alike, the same experience they would get at any other major carnival, just Cayman style”. The founders wanted to deliver something slightly different to traditional carnival, with Craig saying, “We are a boutique carnival, a terminology I came up with a few years ago; meaning, we don’t want to be like the massive carnivals, we prefer quality over quantity, and this is very much appreciated by the participants as well.” GROWTH The first year of CayMAS six bands took part, with around 2,000 people ‘chippin’ down the road’. Six years on and the event has grown from strength to strength. “We have 14 entities involved with this year’s carnival and are expecting a massive crowd to participate in the carnival, locally CayMAS 2023 HITS THE ROAD9 and internationally,” says Craig. “Bands participating include Swanky International, Liquid Ice, Chicken Run, Kalabbra, Wristband, Renegade Mas, Party Animals, Fantasy Mas, Asylum Mas, Dream Carnival, Revel Unit, Q-Movement, Asendn Mas, and Tribal Cayman. PLANNING Planning the event begins even before the previous year’s festivities have finished. “It’s a year-round planning process, gathering sponsors, liaising with the government, making connections with overseas partners to promote the carnival, organising the promotional plan and schedule, liaising with the bands who make up CayMAS, and so much more,” explains Craig. As well as Craig and Wayne, and the army of organisers, CayMAS Chairperson Brent McLean is heavily involved. “He has been extremely instrumental in the development and success of CayMAS Carnival,” says Craig. “He has steered our ship well over his time as chairman and even before then. He has played a massive part in establishing the CayMAS Soca Monarch competition which has grown and improved leaps and bounds since its first year.” JOIN IN Anyone who has participated in CayMAS before, or even watched from the sidelines, will appreciate the pull that the colours, music and energy of carnival provides, and Craig says is it a great stress reliever.10 “Whether you’re a masquerader or a spectator tailgating on the side of the road or at one of the bars along the route, the energy and free-spirit carnival gives you is intoxicating,” he says, admitting that nothing tops actually taking part in the parade. “I’ve said this many times before, it is the one Saturday afternoon that it doesn’t matter your nationality, your colour, your social status, your job level, your age… that one day of the year, we are all as one in CayMAS Carnival.” ROUTE While CayMAS events occur between 28 June - 3 July, the main road parade takes place on Saturday 1 July. The route begins at South Church Street, near Memorial Avenue, and runs through George Town to West Bay Road, culminating at Seven Mile Public Beach. The parade is immediately followed by the Soca Monarch competition and the biggest soca event on the calendar every year, Swanky AfterMAS on Public Beach. Festa’s international must-do carnivals Trinidad Carnival February 2024 “The Mecca of Carnival” Jamaica Carnival April 2024 “Jamaica Carnival is quite surreal, a carnival in the heart of reggae, a real culture shock.” See page 14 for a feature on Renegade Mas co-founder and costume designer Danielle Watler. PUBLIC BEACH SEVEN MILE BEACH NORTH CHURCH STREET WEST BAY ROAD WEST BAY HEAD OF BARKERS GOVERNORS HARBOUR SOUTH SOUND NORTH SOUND EDEN ROCKCall the salon at (345) 623.5437 or email at info@halo.ky to book your appointment! 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Shake The Place by Machel Montano, Destra and Nicki Minaj With a trifecta of Trini musical legends, Shake the Place fuses soca, dancehall and hip-hop. ✮ Machel Montano ✮ Kes ✮ Destra ✮ Skinny Fabulous ✮ Bunji Garlin ✮ Erphaan Alves ✮ Voice ✮ Patrice Roberts ✮ Alison Hinds ✮ Nailah BlackmanT: +1.345.936.9175 Monica@mwproperty.management www.mwproperty.management We founded MW PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LTD. CO. to provide expert, personalized services. The attention to detail sets a property apart. The same holds true in property management. With 25 years of experience and 5-star customer service, allow us to assist you with all your property management and real estate needs both locally and internationally. Experience 24/7, Five Star Customer Service CUSTOMER SERVICE STAR Monica Whittaker, BSC. CAM OWNER 13L-r: Miss Universe Cayman Islands (2022-2023) Chloe Powery-Doxey, Cayman international model Nicole Whittaker, costume designer Danielle Alexis and social media influencer Virginia Sanhouse. All models wearing 2023 Renegade Mas designs by Danielle Alexis. Photo: Cortez Vernon 1415 The spectacle of carnival wows each year with dazzling and elaborate costumes as masqueraders take to the road. Danielle Watler designs costumes for the Renegade Mas carnival band which she co-owns alongside husband John Watler. Also known under her designer name of Danielle Alexis, she has been busy preparing magical creations for CayMAS, which this year takes place from 27 June to 3 July. The costumes are fashioned from a fantastical array of fabric, gems, feathers, wire, and lots of glue, and are planned four to six months in advance of carnival. “The planning process takes up the most time due to resources being limited on the island,” says Danielle, a self-taught designer, who began making carnival costumes in 2017. Once all materials have been gathered and bases have been sewn, it will take Danielle approximately a week to complete and jewel a section. “Considering what I want my costume to look like is only half the process – I also have to consider my target audience, who is wearing the costume, what do I want them to feel once they are in the costume, and what costume style, colour and fi t will fl atter them the most,” she says. “I am also learning each year as I go and perfecting my craft, developing the theme, colours and considering improvements from the year before.” Danielle spends a lot of time researching different styles, cultures, body types and markets, and fi nding the best way to infuse these elements into her designs. “I love bold trims, mixed patterns and statement neck pieces,” she says. TEAM WORK With so much work involved in creating the costumes, Danielle has partnered with others who are skilled in the construction process of the feathered backpacks and sewing the bases of the outfi ts. “I recognised early on that although I had the vision, I just did not have the time or the expertise in this area. and quality is very important to myself and the Renegade Mas brand,” says Danielle. “Once I have the bases made, that’s when the fun truly starts for me: embellishing each costume by hand in my dining room – my favourite part of the process. (It) feels like I am completing a jigsaw puzzle; all the pieces are accessible, but the challenge is identifying the right pattern.” Danielle has also trained Renegade Mas team members, her mother-in-law, her eldest Carnival costumes Fashion designer Danielle Watler tells What’s Hot about making the exotic outfi ts for which carnival is famed. Danielle’s costume designs from 2022.16 child and even the children’s nanny to help with the costume production. For this year’s CayMAS, she has designed three sections and a total of eight variations of costumes. FAVOURITE DAY As well as making the costumes, Danielle also loves to participate in carnival, describing it as her favourite day of the year. And it’s the women wearing her designs who make the event so special for her. “They encourage me to want to do more and to be more as a designer and as a woman,” she says. “(I love) to see how each woman wears each costume differently and no matter what that difference looks like, seeing them step into their power so confi dently.” UNITY As for the meaning and importance of carnival in culture, Danielle sums it up as ‘unity’. “There is no division of social status or skin tone,” she says. “(This means) coming together – going down one road and letting go of all worries with each walking mile; allowing ourselves to feel alive, accepted and free; showing up just as we are.” After disruption of events during the COVID pandemic, CayMAS 2023 is lined up to be one of the best yet and Renegade Mas is ready for the road. “(This is) an opportunity for us now to really see our hard work and efforts unfold,” says Danielle. “And let me tell you – in the words of Machel Montano – we will be shaking di whole place.” *More of Danielle’s costumes can be seen on @renegademas345 and @dan__alexis. The costumes are fashioned from a fantastical array of fabric, gems, feathers, wire, and lots of glue. Danielle’s fi rst costume designs for carnival in Cayman, based on the tiger, under the theme ‘She can’t be caged’.26 SPONSORED CONTENT Creative cocktails Door No. 4 is an award-winning cocktail bar located in The Grove on Seven Mile Beach, showcasing modern spins on classic Caribbean favourites and delicious bites. DISCOVER DOOR NO.4, CAYMANS ULTIMATE COCKTAIL DESTINATION NAME: Kudo Cooler RECIPE: 1oz Tanqueray Gin 1oz Cucumber Sake 2oz Local Mango Leaf Cordial 0.5oz Lemon Juice 0.5oz Soda Water 2 sprays Mango Skin Tincture METHOD: Shake gin, sake, cordial, and lemon juice with ice. Pour into a highball glass and top with soda. Garnish with a mango leaf and spray with tincture. Door No.4, The Grove, West Bay Rd, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. PO Box 448, KY1-1106. OPENING TIMES: Mon. to Fri. 4pm-1am, Sat., Sun. 11am- Midnight. Food served until 11pm every night.Next >