With a career spanning over 20 plus years and the Caribbean ageless gene, it’s no surprise that supermodel and host Stacey McKenzie is looking stronger than ever. We caught up with Stacey to share a bit of her success with us and tell us about life in Jamaica, her place of birth. Since all borders were locked in mid-March, Stacey opted to stay in Jamaica until things cleared up at home in Canada and the world. We caught up on WhatsApp and she generously shared the beautiful images of her many faces and some of her favorite places in Jamaica.
BIO
Dubbed by VOGUE as one of 5 Jamaican models to CHANGE the face of Fashion! This Supermodel, TV Personality and Motivational Speaker, is one of the most recognizable faces in the fashion industry. Self-trained, Stacey McKenzie has appeared in magazines including: VOGUE (U.S., Italian, British, Korean & Spanish), Harper’s Bazaar, Interview, Essence, Flare, and advertising campaigns including Calvin Klein, Jean Paul Gaultier and MAC Cosmetics. She was a quirky steward in the cult classic film The Fifth Element, a host of Stylissimo (Europe's House of Style), a Judge and Model Mentor on Canada's Next Top Model and a model coach and mentor on MTV's Made and more recently America's Next Top Model.
PHILANTHROPY
Walk This Way Workshops Inc., an organization designed to empower and educate people interested in the fashion industry, was created by Stacey, and in 2013 she launched The Walk Camp for young girls-a free 2 week camp to empower girls to value their uniqueness, inspiring them to find their individual voice. The Walk Camp has been in Toronto for 6 years and Stacey launched it in 2019 in Jamaica.
What’s your favorite thing about being in Jamaica?
Surrounded by my family, friends, then my fellow Jamaican people, my people are full of vibes, mad fun, feisty and wild, the food is beyond amazing, good homegrown food which I didn't have access to like that in North America. I can go in our yard and pick some Sweetie Mangoes, coconuts or jackfruit. I can go to our favorite fishing village in my favorite parish called Portland to get fresh fish that they just catch. It's truly a blessing the good way of life we have in the Caribbean, and I can swim in our beautiful ocean even though I can't swim, lolol.
If we want the ultimate local experience in your hometown in Jamaica what do we do?
Go to our farm to collect food like yam, ackee and callaloo, and have a cookout on the river surrounded by mountains. If there's a street dance (party) we will crash it, lol.
Top 5 places to visit in Jamaica across the island from your experience?
1: Blue Mountains in Kingston, Jamaica
2: Reach Falls / Rabbit Hole in Portland, Jamaica
3: Rock House in Negril, Jamaica
4: Black River in St. Elizabeth
5: Blue Lagoon and Monkey Island in Portland
Do you miss Canada, if so what about Canada do you miss?
Yes, I do miss Canada. Canada is a totally different vibe from the Caribbean. I miss my family and friends. I miss taking the metro which I love. I miss rocking different types of clothes because of the different types of weather there. I miss my “Ketchup and Doritos” chips, any local Italian food, I miss going to the shopping malls where we can shop and eat in one place.
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