I Got into a Fight at the Airport!!

The headlines read ‘Diva Brawl in TCI Airports,’ but those words could not have been further from the truth.

Turks and Caicos is a vacation to some but it’s also where I call “home”. Growing up there surrounded by family friends and nothing but love was my reality. Sandy beaches beautiful water and culture that stretches longer than the island and everyone seems to be related so you are always feel like you are surrounded by family.

Recently, I was invited by Courtney Robinson, a known face in the Turks island media to be a judge for the Turks and Caicos Next Top Model contest. It was the first time I would return since the scandal occurred 2 short years ago. I was very apprehensive to accept at first because I didn’t know how I would be perceived or if I would be accepted. I called my aunt still living on the island and who played a huge part in raising me while I was living in Turks. She and my uncle are very influential in Grand Turks, which is the largest island in Turks and Caicos, and I figured if I should ask anyone it should be them. They ensured me it was my home and everyone would be very excited to see me. That’s all I needed to hear, my bags were packed and I had two great friends along for the trip. Bre Scullark was a fan favorite on America’s Next Top Model Cycle 5 and Hayden David is a known stylist in the industry and also one of my best friends.

Prior to the trip I had been working non-stop so this trip was beyond needed and welcomed into my life. We were greeted at the airport by Courtney and a team of people including Laissa, one of my friends that I’ve grown up with and the driver who was to take us to paradise. I was so nervous to be back but it was something about the lovely smell of the sea and the heat mixed with the beautiful accents that made me relax a bit more. There are not enough beautiful words in the dictionary to describe how beautiful the Somerset Resort was and we spent the day enjoying paradise and soaking up God’s gift to us at that very moment.

The following day I was able to meet my fellow judges along with the models in the competition for the preliminary round. The girls seemed a little nervous at first but I ensured them I was probably way more anxious than them. The competition opened with a walk from Bre in a stunning gown and a fresh island tan. The girls followed after and looked absolutely amazing but, the show was stolen by Mr. Robinson with a dance number he put on that made the whole crowd erupt with excitement. The contest was fantastic and all the girls looked like winners at the end of the night. I was very humbled at the fact that they welcomed me as a judge.

We celebrated and danced all night at the Gansevoort hotel where everything was so beautiful I completely forgot about any anxious feelings I previously had. Time had come when we had to leave, and I promised myself I would make more frequent trips home because I never want anything to keep me away from paradise again.