Grenada has once again been thrust into the award-winning spotlight — this time, in the international journalism industry at the recently-concluded Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) Caribbean Media Awards in New York City.
Teen Vogue’s Entertainment News Editor Kaitlyn McNab was awarded a prestigious Caribbean Media Award in the ‘Personal Immersive Story’ category, for her viral feature ‘Grenada’s Spicemas Carnival Revolutionised the Way I Think About My Blackness and My Body’. The piece, which McNab penned in August 2023, was borne out of the Spicemas Press Trip Experience that McNab was a part of, curated in collaboration with the Grenada Tourism Authority and Industry 360 Ltd. — founded by Tenille Clarke of Chambers Media Solutions and Melissa Noel of Mel&N Media.
In the thoughtfully written essay, the acclaimed writer recounted her transformative experience playing mas for the first time as a participant in Grenada’s annual Carnival celebrations Spicemas. She broke down the purposeful impact Spicemas and Jab Jab made on her connections to her West Indian heritage and her body. CTO noted that her dedication to journalism and her impactful storytelling have truly made a significant mark and this award is a well-deserved recognition of her outstanding work.
CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority Petra Roach congratulated the New York University graduate of Belizean heritage on her recent accolade. “As a guest of the Grenada Tourism Authority and its esteemed partners, Kaitlyn’s story is a shining example of the lasting impact of Grenada’s Spicemas experience and her brilliant storytelling mirrors what every Grenadian holds near and dear: that the Spice Isle is an outstanding crown jewel of the Caribbean that changes the lives of everyone who touches these shores for the better.” Adding that Grenada represents a tourism paradise that marries pure adventure with rich heritage, Roach noted that there is something for every visitor to the tri-island stage. “Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique are proud spaces of cultural preservation, and this distinguished honour from CTO in recognising the power of Kaitlyn’s story should act as an open invitation for visitors to explore the variety of experiences that we have to offer.”
The 2024 edition of Grenada’s Spicemas Experience, is shaping up to be a memorable cultural extravaganza and will take place from 1–14 August 2024.
GTA
