CARNIVAL CHASER

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ABOUT ME

I’ve been obsessed with Carnival my entire life, it’s in blood and apart of my culture. My beautiful homeland of Jamaica host one of the biggest carnivals in the Caribbean and I decided to start this blog to share the experience but also give a guide on how to be apart of this wonderful and life changing experience. I started with Carnival 101 in my initial post below so please start from there and read your way up. It is something I believe everyone should experience and I know will enjoy! Thanks for reading.

[carnivalchaser]

GLAM, GLAM, GLAM! I had to state that in bold because it is like an Olympic sport or category when it comes to carnival. If you don’t have the right glam squad, you might as well flush your costume money down the drain because they both go hand in hand. After choosing your costume and band, finding a great makeup artist and hairstylist is critical to achieving the ultimate carnival look. You have to book fast, though, because these professionals get booked months or even a year in advance and time slots are limited and almost near impossible to get if you wait too long. I suggest you go to your band's Instagram account. Most of the time, they work with many great glam squads and often promote them on their page, or you can search on Instagram by using keywords such as “carnival makeup,” and you will find a list of many professional makeup artists in each country. If all else fails, I say watch a few tutorials and make a pit stop at Sephora before you hit the road.

[carnivalchaser]

Choosing your band is another crucial step in attending any carnival festivities. After choosing your dates and which countries festival you will attend, the costume band is a significant priority. It comes with many factors such as cost, the look and feel of each costume, and the band's energy and popularity. Of course, choosing a popular band is more on the expensive side. Still, it is worth every penny because they hire the most talented designers to create these elaborate but beautifully hand-made costumes. In addition, they have the most prominent entertainers to do live performances during the march and unlimited alcohol and food, and last but not least, the best energy all around. My favorite bands for each country are Zulu and Baje International (Barbados), Xodus and Xamayca (Jamaica), and Tribe and Rogue ( Trinidad). You can find all these bands I’ve mentioned on Instagram @zuluinternational @carnivalrogue @xodusjamaica @bajeinternational @tribe @xamaycainternational

[carnivalchaser]

I cannot express this enough, but besides being a fun and fantastic experience, carnival is not for the faint at heart or for the people who have never seen a gym. Cardio is a must, and it must start early to build your stamina for the hours of dancing and walking during the event. Carnival marches usually last up to 8 hours, and the road is long, and there’s no room for stopping ( you’ll miss the whole point of the experience if you do). So I suggest you start with some light cardio 2-3 times per week and add a few dance classes and my favorite pilates, so you can have that long, lean, sculpted body for those beautiful, tiny (but not forgiving) costumes you wear.

[carnivalchaser]

Knowing your dates for each carnival festivity is super important. The "Carnival Calendar" is a must to have in this case. It gives you dates for each country's celebration day to plan accordingly and arrange for accommodations and flights for each country's festivity you will attend. Knowing this information can save you a lot of time and, most importantly, money! With the calendar, you can book in advance for all your necessary accommodation. If you wait last minute, you may not be able to get a cot for rent, because these places fill up quickly and true "Carnivalistas" do not play about planning and booking their dates, etc. I've attached an example of last years calendar because due to the pandemic 2021's non-existent but I'm praying a 2022 carnival year will happen.

[carnivalchaser]

[carnivalchaser]

CARNIVAL 101

CARNIVAL is the creative and beautiful artistic expression of the Caribbean and Latin American culture. Growing up in the Caribbean, it was always my favorite time of the year when the whole island comes together to celebrate its beauty and many cultural influences. As an adult, I still find myself loving this time of year and have now professed myself as a professional carnival chaser for years. I believe this is something everyone should experience, and this blog will be your guide into the beautiful and exciting world of Carnival.  From costumes, parties (otherwise known as fetes), hairstyles, fashion, and workout tips to get ready to show off in the most elaborate and gorgeous handmade costumes from some of the most prominent designers in the region. This is not for the faint of heart but for the people who are ready to explore and dive into one of the best experiences of their lives.