Tesi Johnson, Gleaner Writer
Only Jamaica's 'most fabulous' were invited to party with the elite, young movers and shakers at Smirnoff X.clusive, held at Negril Escape, West End, Negril, on Monday July 31.
Staged by the 'ambassadors of the premium experience', Mad Circle and High Society Entertainment, X.clusive was the final event in the Smirnoff Origination series, and only those who were labelled outgoing, popular, fashionable, and 'clearly original', were treated to the Smirnoff experience. It was billed as a preferred event by the yuppie party bible, Whaddat.com, so naturally expectations were high - and the organisers did not disappoint.
X.clusive lived up to the promise of premium entertainment and guests were treated to delectable cuisine and the gamut of premium drinks while they enjoyed good music and good vibes, amid a sea of beautiful people, dressed in the Smirnoff colours, red and white.
Negril rains
The regular Negril rains threatened to put a damper on the festivities, but just as they did at last year's staging, most kicked up their heels and danced in the showers, while a few others sought refuge in the guest house. As the Negril sunset ensued, splashing hues of yellows and oranges across the exquisite venue and nearby sea, disc jockey Richie D artfully kept the waistlines limber drawing on the dancehall favourites such as Tony Matterhorn's 'Dutty Wine', while the uptown folk performed their demure version of the dance. Even at 9:00 p.m., when the party was slated to end all of three hours prior, Richie D still had the crowd going, now delving into eighties and nineties hits such as Marcia Griffith's 'Electric Slide'.
Among Jamaica's most fabulous for 2006 as decreed by X.clusive, were: Carrie 'Quizz' Sigurdson, CEO of the resident party bible, Whaddat.com; Candace Buchanan of CVM fame, Dean Shepherd of Smirnoff and girlfriend Tricia Lee of Jamaica News Network; Safiya Cooper and Dave DaCosta, both of Red Stripe and Smirnoff; Gersham Greene of NCB Insurance Company; Dwayne Dacres, who was busy signing up ladies for the upcoming exclusive staging of Singles.
guest list
Also spotted were: young designer Keneea Linton, sans her strapping beau, but still in the fabulous company of friends Monique Clark, Dahlia Johnson and Camie Powell; Kamal Bankay of Touchstone Media; Shaun 'Mr. Shaun' Anderson from Coppershot Disco and Kara-Ann Boyne, Miss Jamaica Florida 2005; Christopher Blythe of Paradise Communications; Ian Bourne and Andrew Bellamy of Watever.com; naturally, Garth Walker and Leighton Davis of High Society, and Philip Palmer and Jermaine Brown of Mad Circle; also, debutantes Kellie-Ann Brown, Ketra Braham, Chakira Stephens, Stephanie Graham and Catherine Clark.
The 'ambassadors of the premium experience', Jermaine Brown (left) of Mad Circle, and Leighton Davis (right) of High Society and Dean Shepherd, marketing manager for Smirnoff, were in high spirits at the successful staging of Smirnoff Exclusive, held on Monday, July 31, at Negril Escape, West End, Negril.
