Hot In 2024: What goes around, comes around!

The local lifestyle cycle has given us vibrant moments that captivated hearts, sparked conversations, and defined this year’s cultural pulse.

From electrifying events to life-changing ‘stop-the-world’ moments, and from fashion milestones to groundbreaking achievements in entertainment and food industries, Jamaicans exceeded this year.

In numerology, 2024 is the universal year ‘8’, an indicator of infinity—ergo, what goes around comes around—but also represents power, success, and abundance.

This level of ‘show and prove’ in 2024 may have been directly impacted by the lull many experienced during the COVID era—yes, the ‘panini’ is still in the room (at least, the effects of the pandemic have not waned).

It was a year of launches (AFIMI by Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce and Ted Green Fragrances collection from the Cayman Islands); a year of anniversaries (Eye Q Optical’s 25th, nine years of 100Kingston), a year of unfortunate losses (Quincy Jones, the recently departed journalist Barbara Gayle) and a year of countless updates in the fashion world (Diotima’s Rachel Scott cops CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year, Saint International’s Hot Couture and Avant Garde Designer of the Year outings).

While the end-of-year festivities are in full swing—and there’s plenty of time to make more memories—we must pinpoint these highlights.

Let’s look at the glass half full, at the trends, triumphs, and unforgettable moments—in no particular order—that shaped 2024 on Loop Lifestyle.

The first six months…

For starters, it was the year of Shenseea (she’s partnered with Sunshine Snacks for Hurricane Beryl relief efforts and more; invited Coi Leray, Bobbi and more friends to share JamRock experiences; recorded a rendition of No Woman No Cry for the Bob Marley One Love movie, which premiered in February; dropped her sophomore album Never Gets Late Here in May, broke the internet in April at Jamaica Carnival, and performed her single on The Tonight Show in June; surpassed 1m views with her Hit & Run smash hit, found time to produce several at-home cooking videos, and joined the Reggae Girlz in London for a photoshoot representing the home and away kits of the season.

The ‘Great North American Eclipse’ crossed through the North and Central Americas, WalkGood LA (a not-for-profit run by Sheryl Lee Ralph's son Etienne and daughter Ivy Coco released hot Jamrock-inspired merch. In March, Jamaican designer Edwin Thompson of Theophilio partnered with Warby Parker and presented a collection of sunnies. Later, in May, SAINT International celebrates 20 years of the SAINT International Avant Garde Designer of the Year design competition.

In more fashion news, Rihanna hailed Jawara Alleyne as her ‘new favourite designer’ in an Interview mag interview, and Burberry’s Creative Director Daniel Lee brought the British heritage brand to Jamaica to produce their Spring/Summer 2024 global advertising campaign. Speaking of campaigns, Pepsi dropped the JamaICAN Flava campaign and named singer-songwriter Stalk Ashley as their brand ambassador.

Rick’s Café celebrated 50 years. Xodus Carnival saw its biggest turnout for Carnival in Jamaica, 2024, then headed to the Cayman Islands for a Renegade Mas band partnership. The Cayman Cabinet approved the Seven Mile Public Beach Park vendor policy and the third staging of Shot List happened at Hope Gardens – the multi-day affair was held in honour and recognition of local film industry titans. Adam & Eve Day Spa christened their new digs at 56 Old Hope Road in Kingston.

The other half…

After years in dormancy, the Mr World Jamaica franchise dusted off the crown to name Tarique Barrett the 2024 Mr World Jamaica then sent him off in style to represent Jamaica at the eleventh edition of Mr World pageant in Vietnam. Miss Universe Jamaica franchise holders crowned Rachel Silvera the 2024 queen, and in July, the Jamaica Rum Festival happened.

Top Jamaican comedian Julie Mango’s skits and impersonations of Kamala Harris during her presidential run stopped us all in our tracks. Sandals Resorts International announced plans to debut Beaches Exuma resort in the Bahamas. Marcia Griffiths closes out her 60th year in the reggae industry. Top model Jourdan Dunn and friends make a splash at the Geejam Hotel in Portland.

Popcaan solidified his heavyweight status in the dancehall industry when he made history as the first dancehall artist to sell out the iconic Crystal Palace Bowl in London – an achievement only ever accomplished by the iconic Bob Marley.

St Lucian Olympian Julien Alfred was honoured after her gilded turn at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France. Usain Bolt reveals a Jamaica Day exclusive image of his sons Saint Leo and Thunder in a rare Instagram post.

Diotima's Rachel Scott copped fashion’s biggest award, the CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year award in NYC.

Back home, a $20m goal was set and subsequently bested by the JR2R, ICWI Pink Run. On that note, the menopause conversations and talks about female wellness heightened. Disney’s new ‘Treasure’ cruise line docked in Trelawny.

Mouttet Mile took us to the races for the biggest purse in the English-speaking Caribbean and brought actor Stephen Bishop and singer Estelle to the in-field at Caymanas Park in St Catherine.

Now we pop into as many Xmas parties as possible, eat and drink our weight in cake and sorrel, watch the fireworks on NYE, and enter 2025 with a mission. Numerology enthusiasts predict that 2025 will be a year of enlightenment and transformation. The year is influenced by the master number 11, which is said to foster global unity, innovation, and heightened sensitivity. The Chinese zodiac dubs 2025 the year of the Wood Snake – said to promise introspection, wisdom, and growth. And, in the Catholic Church, 2025 is the 2,025th anniversary of the incarnation of Jesus Christ and signifies a year of Jubilee.

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