guyanese

15 Jan: Guyanese Heritage: Actress Melinda Shankar – Making her Mark in the TV/Film Industry

Melinda Shankar (born February 18, 1992) is a talented young actress who is best known for her role in the Canadian teen drama television series: Degrassi – The Next Generation. She was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada to Guyanese parents and has 3 siblings. Melinda started her acting career at age 10 appearing in TV commercials, print ads and some theatre work.  She made her starring mark in 2008 in the 8th season of Degrassi as…

10 Jan: She Rocks! Meet Abiola Abrams – Author/Certified Wellness Coach aka “The Lifesyle Passonista”

Abiola Abrams is a first generation Guyanese-American author, columnist, speaker, filmmaker and multimedia personality who was raised in New York City. Also a certified wellness coach, Abiola gives heartfelt, no-nonsense, stigma-free advice on self esteem and self worth, body image issues, healthy relationships, mental health, sexual health, and how to live with verve. The first person in her Guyanese family born in the US, Abiola was bullied in her African American neighborhood for being “the…

Khadijatou

04 Dec: She Rocks! Meet Khadijatou Doyneh, aka K2, International Singer/ Songwriter/Spoken Word Poet

Khadijatou Doyneh, aka K2, is a Guyanese raised and London based singer-songwriter, author,  spoken word poet, musician, and dancer. Her extensive travel across Europe, USA, Canada and Africa at an early age  gave birth to Khadijatou’s ‘lifetime travel-bug’ and wish to contribute  to creative culture.  She  started her performing arts career in dance theatre after graduating with a BA (Hons)  Dance and Spanish.  She discovered her aptitude for  writing, blending words and rhythms, and became a recognized artist on the …

Simone Denny

28 Nov: She Rocks Her Guyanese Heritage! Simone Denny – Canadian Pop/Dance/House/Techno Vocalist

Soulful.  Divine.  Spellbinding.  Simone Denny is…a legend in the making.  Born and raised in Toronto, this powerhouse diva is of Guyanese heritage.  Simone’s Caribbean Canadian environment exposed her to a wide and eclectic mixed bag of musical influences. She grew up listening to calypso, reggae, Brazilian music, and of course, R&B. Simone knew in her heart that music would always be a major part of her life. Singing at a talent show in the 6th grade…

Sprinter Kadecia Baird

07 Nov: She Rocks! Kadecia Baird – Track and Field Rising Star

Kadecia Baird has established herself as New York’s fastest female high school sprinters.  This 17 year old star athlete has made a big impact on the track and field community. Kadecia grew up in  Campbellville, Georgetown and is a senior at Medgar Evers High School in Brooklyn, New York.  She began competing in Guyana, passionately pursuing a junior national title. However her talent sky rocketed after she migrated to the U.S. three years ago. Kadecia is a member of her school’s…

Dr.-Samantha-Tross

31 Oct: She Rocks! Dr. Samantha Tross: First Black Female Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in the UK

Only 6% of all surgeons in the United Kingdom are female, and Dr. Samantha Tross is one of them. She’s the first Black British woman to become a consultant Orthopaedic surgeon. Samantha was born in Georgetown Guyana on June 30, 1968 to Sammy and Gwendolin Tross. The second of their four children, she went to St. Gabriel’s Primary School before her diplomat father was assigned to England and the family relocated. Samantha obtained a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery degree…

Grace-Ali1

29 Oct: She Rocks! Grace Aneiza Ali – Founder | Editorial Director, Of Note Magazine

Grace Aneiza Ali is the founder and editor of  OfNoteMagazine.org, an online magazine that celebrates people of color in the arts. She was born in Guyana and moved to the United States when she was fourteen years old. Having grown up surrounded by a culture of illiteracy among women, she is committed to the work of educating girls in developing nations. Grace launched Of Note in 2009 as a platform to honor “artists whose work values compassion,…

Deborah-Cox-800x400

16 Oct: She Rocks! Meet Deborah Cox – Grammy Award-Nominated & Multi-Platinum R&B Singer/Songwriter

Many of you will agree that Deborah Cox is one of the music industry’s most notable voices.   A multi-platinum selling artist and self-proclaimed diva, Deborah was born on born July 13, 1974 in Toronto to Guyanese parents.   She began singing for TV commercials at age 12, and entered various talent shows with the help of her mother. She performed in nightclubs as a teenager, and began to write music around the same time. Deborah entered the music…

sherry ann dixon

12 Oct: She Rock! Guyanese Journalist, Sherry Dixon, admitted to Black 100+ Hall Of Fame

Founder & CEO of the award-winning global organization, Women on the Crossroads, Sherry Ann Dixons, was recently admitted to The Black 100+ Hall of Fame. The Black 100+ Project is an Exhibition of the top 100 Black Achievers in Modern Britain. Guyanese by birth, Sherry is highly respected in the ethnic community in Britain and developed a following of dedicated readers with her health, lifestyle, beauty and relationship articles  She is very passionate about raising the…

Aliann Tabitha Pompey

04 Oct: She Rocks! Aliann Tabitha Pompey, Olympic Sprinter

Aliann Pompey is a Guyanese sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres. She has represented Guyana at the Summer Olympics on four separate occasions (2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012). She has competed at the World Championships in Athletics five times. Born in Georgetown, Guyana, she moved to the United States at the age of 14 and graduated from Cohoes High School, and then Manhattan College in The Bronx, New York City. Initially uninterested in track…