Here's Why You Should Join Support Your Girlfriends Squad In Jamaica
What do you get when you bring together 34 of the dopest game-changing women on the planet? You get the 2019 Support Your Girlfriends "Glossy Possé" Retreat at Moon Palace Resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica! This is what took place in August as leaders in television, women empowerment, non-profit, finance, technology and more set aside five days to cultivate sisterhood on a distant shore.
While most people would have anticipated drama and chaos when traveling abroad with strangers, we experienced nothing of the sort. In fact, our bonds began at our local airports, moved through our WhatsApp group, and landed in Montego as we met our VIP concierge from MoBay to take ground transportation to our home away from home.
Founder and visionary Nikkia McClain established this getaway three years ago as a retreat for herself and her favorite girlfriends, empowerment leader Lucinda Cross and social justice activist Tamika Mallory. What began as a simple relax and relate escape for these girlfriends has now turned into a full five-day connection retreat for like-minded women to connect at heart and curate our own girlfriend experiences in Jamaica and beyond.
Writer Sybil dancing Sybil Clark-Amuti
Landing in Jamaica, I was immediately greeted by my VIP transport representative and matched with a fellow travel partner. After a brisk move through customs and luggage collection, we were driven to grab local eats at Scotchie's (shout out to Hugh, our driver and fellow foodie) for the best jerk chicken I've ever had in my entire life. With a scenic ride ahead, my newest girlfriend and I broke ground over chicken and travel and realized the beginnings of our Glossy Possé connection had officially begun.
Yes, Jamaica has so much to offer, but my new Glossy Possé provided so much more! Moon Palace Resort was the perfect destination to house our moments and curate the memories that every girl's trip commands.
Here's what happened at Support Your Girlfriends Retreat:
We stepped outside of our comfort zones and created new relationships.
Power Workouts With Jennifer Williams
Tene Nicole
With busy schedules and a ton of responsibilities, each one of us said "yes" to the unknown and jumped a flight to Jamaica where we roomed with new girlfriends, feasted over fresh Jamaican cuisine, and were challenged to sit back and let the itinerary take charge.
We shared our story.
With digital strategist Sandra Garcia-Lowery as our host, we learned to be vulnerable and own our stories to create bridges that we can cross in the present and future.
We got movin'.
With Jennifer Williams as our beach body and fitness lead where we tackled 60 minutes of high-intensity physical release on the sands of Ocho Rios.
We hydrated our hustle.
Get Hydrated Urban Hydration Beach Day
Urban Hydration
With Psyche Terry, founder of Urban Hydration, we were taken through an exhilarating mind and body experience, aligning our hearts and minds for optimal hustle!
We shined each other's crowns.
As the author of Boss Brides, Charreah Jackson led us through a healing moment where we looked into our sister's souls to truly see one another for who we really are, QUEENS.
We yachted on a private island tour where we danced the day away!
Yacht Outing Group Shoot (Dancing)
Sybil Clark-Amuti
We made a BIG ASK.
With empowerment speaker Lucinda Cross, we pushed past our boundaries, got honest about our dreams, and spoke them aloud. POWERFUL!
We took control of our money.
With finance leader Shekera Green, we started taking small steps towards the generational wealth we all desire!
We took our place in the movement.
Group Beach Shot
Tene Nicole
As activist Tameka Mallory reminded us, we must do our part to carry the legacy that our ancestors started as freedom-fighters for humanity.
Needless to say, Jamaica owes me NOTHING! From the super swagilicious welcome bags filled with treats from air pods to athleisure and more to midnight dancing at the Moon Palace night club, I am FULL. Nikkia reminded us that we are the missing piece to our sisterhood puzzle. We give the quality of the sisterhood that we'd like to receive, and we can spread that "Glossy Possé" sisterhood everywhere we go.
Special thanks to Nikkia McClain of Tené Nicole Marketing and Public Relations, Moon Palace Resorts, the Jamaica Tourism Bureau, Urban Hydration, All Day Alba, and Indique Hair for making the Support Your Sisters Retreat unforgettable!
For more information, follow Support Your Girlfriends on Instagram.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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ItGirl In Motion: Paige Shari Addison Shows Us Why She's The Hostess With The Mostess
Paige Shari Addison is the epitome of an ItGirl, which is why she is one of 100 ladies on xoNecole's inaugural ItGirl 100 list in partnership with Hyundai. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Paige started her journey as a host in high school by hosting parties. Since then, she has made a career in hosting, from parties to big-name events, and she launched Strictly RNB, a platform for new artists and R&B lovers. Paige reflects on her creative path in the limited video series "ItGirl in Motion."
“My first curated event at Criminal Records was incredible. It was all for up-and-coming artists,” she says. “I needed a platform for us as a collective to be able to give ourselves the platform instead of asking for it, instead of looking for it. I was like, I want to make sure I let people get this experience that I would give as a performer but enjoy the experience with them. It was a dream come true.”
The Atlanta native also has her own line of acai bowls called Soulfull Bowls. She started it during the pandemic after events and parties shut down. But it was her love for eating acai bowls and the reactions others had to them that made her want to make it her next business move. Being open to creating new ventures in the midst of uncertainty is a bold move and one of the reasons why Paige has the “it” factor.
“Being an ItGirl means you’re just authentic. There’s an air to us. We have confidence that exudes from the way we speak, the way we put our lip gloss on, the way we walk, the way we talk. I show up as myself everytime I walk into a room. I’m hospitable, I make sure everybody’s good,” she says.
Get to know more about the hostess with the mostess in the video above.
See our ItGirl 100 list in full here. Click through the gallery below for some BTS moments of Paige and our partnership with Hyundai.
Director: Mikkoh @mikkoh
Production company: @polly___studio
Producer/AD: Samuel Cho @choboi90
Producer/Tech: Paul Nguyen @paul__winn
DP: Cristian Bernal @cristianbernal
Editor: @30inthemorning
2nd Cam: Paul Nguyen
1st AC: AJ Paug @ajpaug Gaffer: Dennis Albert @dennisalbert_
Audio Mixer: Victor Chavez @vic_the__
PA: Rick Carreno @ispeakrick
PA: Tiffany Do @tivani.doee
BTS Photo: Prime @theartofprime
Car Detail: @sud_studs @slugglobal
Creative Director @hellobosco
Team Lead @kevgumbo3000
Project Manager @zakk_jullot
Creative Producer @iamkingsheyla
Designers @miacolemxn @noelspiva
@xoNecole
Director, Integrated Marketing @_vang
Campaign Manager @kingchachiii
Talent Lead @kaylawalker
Feature image by Prime/ @theartof prime