Miami Carnival 2011: Girl Power Interviews
In October 2011, Julianspromos traveled to South Florida during Miami Carnival weekend, expanding its Caribbean media coverage beyond New York and New Jersey.
On October 6, 2011, Sheniele “Vivaa” Dodson interviewed Machel Montano, Britney Dookie, Fay-Ann Lyons, Bunji Garlin and Skinny Fabulous at Girl Power Miami, with additional live performance footage from Fay-Ann and Bunji.
The trip also included coverage connected to RAVE: A Real Artist Vibes Experience, another major event during Miami Carnival weekend.
Together, the videos capture an early chapter in Julianspromos’ growth into a Caribbean entertainment platform covering artists and events across major Carnival destinations.
Girl Power Miami 2011
Islands United presented the 11th Annual Girl Power on Thursday, October 6, 2011, at Calder Casino & Race Course, 21001 NW 27 Ave., Miami Gardens, Florida 33056.
The event was promoted as the “Pretty in Pink Edition” during Miami Carnival week.
The lineup featured Kes The Band, Machel Montano & The HD Family, Patrice Roberts, Rudy, Selena Serrano, Michelle Xavier, Fay-Ann Lyons, Nadia Batson and Lil Devyn.
Vanessa James, Barry Hype and Vibesman Redman hosted the event.
Machel Montano at Girl Power
Among the biggest artists interviewed by Julianspromos was Machel Montano.
The footage captures Machel speaking with Sheniele “Vivaa” Dodson during Miami Carnival week.
His appearance came during one of the defining years of his career. Earlier in 2011, Machel returned to Trinidad and Tobago Carnival competition and captured both the International Power Soca Monarch title and Road March with “Advantage.”
By October, that momentum had carried into performances and appearances throughout the Caribbean and its diaspora.
Machel Montano speaks with Sheniele “Vivaa” Dodson at Girl Power during Miami Carnival 2011.
Britney Dookie: Machel Montano’s HD Dancer
Vivaa also interviewed Britney Dookie, who was part of Machel Montano’s HD performance team.
During Machel’s 2011 performances, Britney became familiar to Soca audiences through her featured appearances during “Bend Over,” bringing flexibility, dance and acrobatic movement to the stage presentation.
Her Girl Power interview offered a look at another part of the HD experience beyond the recording artists themselves.
Britney Dookie speaks with Julianspromos during Girl Power Miami 2011.
Fay-Ann Lyons Interview & Performance
Fay-Ann Lyons was also featured in the Julianspromos coverage.
Her footage includes both an interview and live performance material from Girl Power.
By 2011, Fay-Ann was already one of Soca’s leading performers, following her historic 2009 Carnival season when she captured Power Soca Monarch, Groovy Soca Monarch and Road March.
Fay-Ann Lyons speaks with Sheniele “Vivaa” Dodson and performs live at Girl Power during Miami Carnival 2011.
Bunji Garlin in Miami
Vivaa also spoke with Bunji Garlin during Girl Power.
The footage includes both his performance and interview, adding another major Soca voice to Julianspromos’ Miami Carnival coverage.
By this point, Bunji had already established himself as one of Ragga Soca’s most distinctive artists and had competed in the 2011 International Power Soca Monarch final earlier that year.
Bunji Garlin performs and speaks with Sheniele “Vivaa” Dodson at Girl Power during Miami Carnival 2011.
Sheniele “Vivaa” Dodson interviews Bunji Garlin at Girl Power during Miami Carnival 2011, part of Julianspromos’ early South Florida media coverage.
Skinny Fabulous at Girl Power
Skinny Fabulous brought St. Vincent and the Grenadines into the mix.
Already known for his high-energy performances and growing international presence, Skinny spoke with Vivaa during Girl Power as his profile continued to expand beyond Vincy Mas.
Skinny Fabulous speaks with Sheniele “Vivaa” Dodson at Girl Power during Miami Carnival 2011.
Vivaa Takes Julianspromos to Miami
The 2011 Miami Carnival trip marked another step in the expansion of Sheniele “Vivaa” Dodson and Julianspromos.
Only months earlier, Vivaa had conducted her first Julianspromos artist interview with Young Devyn.
In July, she and Julian Hackett traveled to Six Flags Great Adventure for the first event Julianspromos formally covered as media.
By October, the coverage had expanded to Miami.
The Girl Power interviews showed Julianspromos beginning to move beyond the New York and New Jersey Caribbean circuit and follow artists into other major Carnival destinations.
That expansion would continue over the following years as the platform increased its coverage across the Caribbean, North America and beyond.
RAVE: A Real Artist Vibes Experience
Miami Carnival weekend continued on Saturday, October 8, 2011, with RAVE: A Real Artist Vibes Experience, another Islands United production.
The event featured a major Soca lineup including Rikki Jai, Kes The Band, Benjai, Iwer George, Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons, Luta, Skinny Fabulous, Machel Montano & The HD Family, Patrice Roberts, Farmer Nappy and Zan.
Vivaa recorded an on-camera introduction for RAVE at Millionaire’s Row in Miami Beach as part of Julianspromos’ Miami Carnival coverage.
Sheniele “Vivaa” Dodson introduces RAVE: A Real Artist Vibes Experience during Miami Carnival weekend in 2011.
Miami Carnival 2011 Photo Gallery
Explore photos from Girl Power and Miami Carnival 2011, capturing artists, performances, interviews and the atmosphere surrounding Julianspromos’ early South Florida coverage.
From the Julianspromos Archives
Girl Power Miami 2011 brought together some of the most recognizable names in Soca during one of the Caribbean diaspora’s biggest Carnival weekends.
Julianspromos’ coverage featured conversations with Machel Montano, Britney Dookie, Fay-Ann Lyons, Bunji Garlin and Skinny Fabulous, alongside live performance footage from the event.
The Miami Carnival trip also included RAVE, extending the coverage across multiple events during the weekend.
For Julianspromos, Miami Carnival 2011 represented an important stage in the platform’s expansion beyond New York, as its interviews and event coverage began reaching more Caribbean artists, audiences and Carnival destinations.
