Six of the ladies in the team Fab Nine. Foreground from left: Lynne Scott and Jackie Bird. Background from left: Karen Neita, Joan Lee, Cecile Levee and Sandra Kennedy-Lyn. - PHOTO BY JANET SILVERA
THEY CAME together through years of networking, bonding and friendship. Nine women friends from all walks of life, different vocations and now living in Montego Bay. They share common interests in wines, the arts and antiques and they are all fabulous as they face the glorious possibilities of their middle years. They are Fab Nine.
To learn more about who these women are and what makes them tick, Flair spoke with some members of the sisterhood. For starters, Sandra Kennedy-Lyn, Ann Chen, Cecile Levee, Jackie Bird, Karen Neita, Maureen Shaw, Lynne Scott, April Parchment-Knight and Joan Lee just look absolutely fabulous in white, a colour that they just decided to wear in various styles for one of their many celebrations.
Karen Neita
Fab Nine in Karen Neita's words, "... is a group of girlfriends who do things together, celebrate events, have common interests and support each other."
She said they are no different from girlfriends the world over and although none is from the Second City, they all now reside there so they have decided to make the most of it.
"We have a support network that is always there for whatever venture we are involved in. We have just gained some visibility in the process; the downside is that having gained the visibility, we now have to look our best in public at all times," she told Flair.
Their big moment came at the recent concert put on by the Western Jamaica Media Association (WJMA). Their performance enhanced by innovative costumes placed them permanently in the hearts and minds of Montegonians.
Neita enjoys the fellowship with her sisters, the tightly-knit support structure and the fact that they are able to identify each other's good and bad points, discuss them and move on.
"But very importantly, we do not allow religion or politics to enter into our discussions. We are simply about lifestyle and bonding while caring enough to make Jamaica the best place for our children to live."
Cecile Levee
Cecile Levee, is an interior decorator/ entrepreneur who thinks Fab Nine's sisterhood puts to rest the ridiculous notion that women can't be friends.
Most importantly we are very supportive of each other but equally hard on each other when necessary."
Being a businesswoman she reckoned that business and professional women world-wide are finally realising they can do anything they choose.
'We have always been the sounding boards for our successful husbands and sons. But more of us are now stepping to the forefront, not to compete or show up, but just because we are capable and have always been."
She added that the key is to find a balance especially when some of them are juggling the roles of mothers, wives, daughters, lovers and productive citizens. "We have to realise how we perform in these roles are just as how we perform in the boardroom."
Ann Chen
For Ann Chen, sisterhood and friendship are forever and is of great value. She finds both in her girlfriends, Fab Nine.
Ann Chen, is the managing director of Super Plus Foods Stores and told Flair that the sense of friendship among her girlfriends is felt from the heart.
"It is not contrived, it's just the way we feel about each other. We are honest, sincere and supportive with a strong commitment of goodwill towards each other."
The group is just about friendship but share similar goals. "We are all confident, fulfilled and focused women. We are all mothers with great ambitions for our children in the quest to raise well adjusted, good future citizens with an understanding of their responsibilities and their possibilities in life."
There are some differences but they don't get in the way. "Our differences make us interesting and intriguing and each is appreciated for our differences."
Jacqueline Bird
If we are to fail
let us fail trying
we do not want to fail
because we were busy fighting
a right to maintain our femininity
in a world demanding equality
when all we want is our dignity
allow us to reach full fertility.
- Jacqueline Bird, July 2006
Jacqueline Bird, like many of her Fab Nine compatriots, is a thriving entrepreneur. She is the proprietor of Jacqui's Treasures, a furniture store located on Union Street, Montego Bay. They are into buying, selling, sourcing, trading and restoration of furniture.
To her, "Fab Nine is more of an essence than something one puts in words". To her friendship means "having persons around that you can turn to in your moments of joy or despair, to always have a listening ear and to be encouraged to achieve your goals and aspirations. No matter how miserable or frustrated we are, in each other's company it is like recharging your battery."
Despite their busy schedules, they manage to find time to meet for birthdays and to celebrate special occasions. They support other to celebrate milestones such as Ann's recent appointment as President of Montego Bay Rotary Club. "We set our goals and we discuss them with each other. When I first opened my store Sandra, Karen and Joan assisted me in the overwhelming task of setting up"; likewise, "Joan and April will soon be opening a new business together and we are all assisting in getting them up and going."
Women have made strides in superseding the limits of the traditional domestic role. As Mrs. Bird explains, "It is our role as professional women to strive to achieve our goals, in the past women were judged on their ability to wash clean cook iron and bear children. We have become major financial contributor to the household."
Lynne Scott
"It started when Sandra Kennedy-Lyn decided to have a ladies' night at her home. She invited me to come and chill with 'like-minded' ladies. I had already met Jackie Bird, Joan Lee and Karen Neita, but was meeting Ann Chen and Cecile Levi, for the first time. It was so fabulous. We insisted that Sandra do this again. After three more evenings of great fun throughout the year, it evolved into a theme night called - ''Cosmopolitan Night' where I met Maureen Shaw and April. We had a few cocktails and chatted and laughed like girls do. Seven years later here we are.
"I feel that we are spiritually connected and love ourselves so much that it is easy to love each other. In my darkest and lightest hours they are there for me and have proven themselves over and over again with unconditional love. I refer to them as my family and we offer each other advice and constructive criticism to aid one and all to grow. Women need each other and I feel we keep each other in check. A serious seed of trust has been planted within us and continues to grow.
Joan Lee
"Contrary to what most people think, we are not a group or a club - we are really just friends. We really just started getting together and having fun, then celebrating birthdays at some special place; we do something different for each one.
We all have different interests and businesses. Our times together are really geared towards having fun. Actually, we were really quite private about our 'get together' but everywhere we go, we seem to attract people, and everyone seems to want to know who we are. Recently we performed at the Half Moon Hotel on Professional Stars in Concert and people are now even more convinced that we are a performing group which couldn't be further from the truth."
Lee who is an interior designer by profession, is also an antique dealer and does furniture appraisals. She notes that having such great friends is worthwhile. "For me having such good friends, knowing that I can call eight other people (outside of my family) who will rush to my side if I need them is just wonderful. We have different strengths and it is just amazing what we have learned from each other. I have learned that good friends are extremely valuable worth keeping when you find them.
Maureen Shaw
Shaw echoes Lee's sentiments. "It's just an amazing experience to share friendship with eight phenomenal women." She notes that the support she receives from her friends is extraordinary, "because of our diversity, support comes in whatever from needed to suit the occasion. Whether by way of a phone call, an impromptu get together, or just giving advice, love and encouragement."
Shaw who is the managing director of Living Spaces, a furniture and home d*cor store notes, "It is always fulfilling to be surrounded by beautiful, fabulous, dynamic women who have my best interest at heart."
Writers: Barbara Ellington, Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Tesi Johnson and Nashauna Drummond.
