Photo Credit: Brianna Malcolm James
Celebrity Chef, Chef Bernard James announced that he will be holding the 1st Inaugural Miss Caribbean LA Pageant in honor of his late wife Corlette Malcolm James who passed away in 2009 from Lymphoma Cancer. Chef Bernard James has partnered with the Lymphoma Research Foundation to create an annual event where he could donate to the cause. His goal is to provide light to families experiencing darkness after losing loved ones to lymphoma and any form of cancer.
“My children and I suffered a tragic loss and for years we have supported the research of the disease so it was important for me to do something where I could uplift women,shine light on the Caribbean heritage and pay homage to Corlette,” said James.
Though he is known as a celebrity chef to most, his journey has been far from easy. James migrated from Guyana to New York where he achieved success in his culinary career. After losing his wife, he relocated to Los Angeles with his 2 children that heshared with Corlette. He had to balance being a widowed father and provider all while mourning. Through the pageant, he wants to be the helping hand that reaches out and gives back to our community.
“It’s hard to watch your children grieve all while grieving yourself and I remember feeling helpless and lonely at times,” said James. “With Miss Caribbean LA, I want to offer hope instead of helplessness, connection instead of loneliness and life-saving research.”
In order to manage his entrepreneurial aspirations and fatherhood, he included his children in his business and launched Taste of The Caribbean LA. What started off as a Caribbean food truck, quickly grew into a brick-and-mortar location. Last year he opened Taste of the Caribbean LA and less than a year later expanded with the launch of Taste of the Caribbean Long Beach. His children help run the business. His daughter Brianna oversees the creative and digital media for the brand whereas his son BJ manages the business development of the restaurants.
Miss Caribbean Los Angeles will make history as the first ever Caribbean Beauty Pageant to take place in LA. The event will be held on June 1, 2024 at the New Mart in Downtown Los Angeles to kick off both Caribbean Heritage Month and National Cancer Survivor Month. A red carpet and will begin at 5pm and the Pageant competition will be from 6:30p-10p. The event will be co-hosted by actress Judi Johnson and P-Valley’s Morocco Omari.
The official contestants are Altaceen Thomas, Chaka Cumberbatch, Onika Kilkenny and Orinshia Peters representing Guyana. Aminata Williams, Ashley Evering, Harmony Hemmings and Ishakeyva Arnaud and Yaniqua Chambers representing Jamaica. Jahmea Bent will be representing Belize, Kathy Nozil representing Haiti, Amanda Murphy representing Puerto Rico and Milan Smith representing St. Kitts and Nevis.
The organizers of the Miss Caribbean Los Angeles inaugural pageant, are excited to extend an invitation for your esteemed company to be a sponsor for the inaugural Miss Caribbean LA Pageant. Sponsoring our pageant provides your company with a unique opportunity to align itself with a prestigious event that promotes diversity, empowerment, and community engagement.
For more on the Miss Caribbean Los Angeles Pageant, please visit their website here: https://www.misscaribbeanlosangeles.com and follow them on social media @misscaribbeanla.