Vashtie is like Wendy says “A friend in my head”, she’swhat I define as Fly-Caribbean-Chic. Known at the downtown sweetheart, Vashtie Kola was recently featured in the NY Times article by Alexis Swerdloff about, well … everything; her upbringing, her career, her big breaks and why she’s able to manauver multiple cultures so seamlessly. I really love how humble and down to earth she comes across in every interview I’ve read about her and admire that she organically gets involved with projects based on her interests. Here are a few quotables, but definitely check out the full story. (Photo above from NY Times)
Her ability to hop from one world to another has a lot to do with her upbringing. Ms. Kola grew up in a poor section of downtown Albany, the daughter of Trinidadian immigrants.
“My parents didn’t explain a lot of things to me about West Indian culture,” she said. Her neighborhood was predominantly black, she said, adding: “I assumed I was black. But the black kids were like, ‘You look Indian,’ and the Indian kids were like, ‘You look black.’ ”
“About a year ago, I was trying to do this one project, and I kept forcing it to happen, and nothing ended up coming of it,” she said. “I’ve had so much success when things happen truly organically.”
Mikelah
Mikelah is a Caribbean Culture expert, curating the bridge between the Caribbean and its diaspora. A CUNY Baruch College graduate with a BBA in Marketing. With previous experience with Caribbean lifestyle brands such as VP Records, Tempo TV and JAMROCK Magazine. Currently serving as a digital marketing maven by day, while continuing to collaborate with Caribbean brands.
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