PHOTOS BY ORLANDO PRINC harrifa Jones (left) and Kyann se taking break to pose for so photos.

In the spirit of youth and growth, the recent graduates of St Hugh's High School showed up to their annual graduation ball in a celebratory mood. The young ladies who gathered at The Knutsford Court Hotel on June 19 to celebrate their bitter-sweet high-school departure embodied beauty and elegance. They were joined by a few of their male counterparts from Kingston College and Calabar.

As the graduates assembled to dine, they were regaled with a few short stories and lessons from guest speaker Sean Williams, director of Whole Life Sports. A past student of Kingston College, Williams... read more

Danielle Lee (left) looks stunning as she unveils the final look for the runway.

Recently, A splendid collaboration between Miss Jamaica Universe, Uzuri International, Dermoth Williams Couture and numerous other sponsors resulted in the establishment of a new and enticing event for any and all young folks interested in glamour. Prom Shoppe, held at the Eden Gardens Wellness Resort and Spa, exposed willing patrons to displays from multiple fashion, hair, nail and make-up brands, as well as to a gratifying runway presentation for viewers to get a better look at the commodities being offered. Youthlink sat down with co-principal of Uzuri International and one of the event... read more

The modern vs vintage shopper

We gave you the best gowns for the most common body types. Now, are you ready to hit the mall with your mother, sister or friends in search of all your graduation and ball-night needs? This speaks to our vintage (the traditional) shopper, who prefers trying on and modelling every possible option in the store’s dressing room.

And with the advent of online dress shops, there is improved accessibility for the modern shopper. It may be cheaper although not easier to select a faultless gown, but it is definitely a great platform to do... read more

Our prom king’s tuxedo is classic even with the floral accents on the tail-end of the jacket and the sleeves. No further questions; the fashion-forward feel of this slim fit suit will certainly have his date happy that he chose her to accompany him to prom.

The season of prom is a special time for all adolescents leaving high school. It is always the climax following what feels like the longest term of the school year. Although females are generally at the centre of attention for the occasion, the males who take the time out to get suited (the right way) for prom are always able to steal that attention. Are you ready to be the king of the ball or named as the well-groomed ‘genna’ of the year? Here are five tips for #promshoppe2019 that will definitely have the entire school turning their heads in your direction on that special night.

1... read more

IF A smile really is the greatest accessory a woman can wear, then your earrings, necklace and other pieces better keep you smiling right through ball night. Ladies, there’s so much that the right statement necklace can do to complement a sweetheart neckline or an off-the-shoulder masterpiece gown. This is your moment and Youthlink wants to help you to accessorise like a pro on ball night.

MIX IT AND MATCH IT

Adrianna Bryan is the owner of ExotiChild, an authentic, hand-crafted Jamaican jewellery and accessories store. She is full of advice for aspiring... read more

A wise guy once said there are two most important days in a young lady’s life – the day she gets married and the day she goes to prom! Okay, maybe that isn’t a direct quote from any great philosopher but when it comes to ball night, we’re pretty sure the occasion is ranked right up there on the list of ‘big days’ for us girls! It’s that one night when all your Is have to be dotted and your Ts crossed, from the crown of your head to the sole of your feet.The new rave within the beauty industry is the lace wig. This is convenient for everyone, the technique used to install the wig may differ... read more

THE IMAGE taken on the cover of our May 7, 2019 issue was taken on June 16, 2006, and represents the last time we did a graduation ball photoshoot with designers Uzuri, who are now making graduation dresses again. One of the models in the photograph is Pattian Lothian, a former Youthlink writer who, sadly, passed away in 2010. Pattian’s mother has indicated that the use of the image helps her daughter’s memory live on.

In light of the recent ‘natural hair movement’, many Jamaican women are opting to skip the relaxers and heat styling in favour of their naturally growing kinks and curls. Yendi Phillipps, Terri-Karelle Reid and Davina Bennett are a few of the well-known faces representing Jamaican women who just can’t get enough of their kink.

While some decide to part with damaged ends all at once with a ‘big chop’, others have chosen the more passive route, transitioning: the process by which the natural roots are allowed to grow out underneath the relaxed or heat-damaged ends.

What do you... read more

From the moment we enter high school and throughout our sometimes arduous journey there, there’s one common goal planted firmly in mind – to graduate, and to do so in style. Second to the ceremony itself is the glitz and glamour of ball night which has, undoubtedly, become an important occasion in a teen’s life, almost like a wedding. Uzuri International has recognised this fact and is pulling out all the stops to make the occasion an epic one.

On Sunday, June 2, the franchise will hold its inaugural Prom Shoppe 2019, an expo-type event catering to all the needs of ball night.... read more

Rebecca Mahfood (left): “Make-up on Naomi Cowan for her first Reggae Sumfest performance. She’s the first artiste I’ve done make-up on and it was so cool to see her on stage killing it, while wearing make-up by me. She also used me for her ‘Paradise Plum’ music video, which was such a cool experience.”

In A world that has always been able to appreciate aesthetic value, make-up and design have unsurprisingly proven to be popular industries. Especially in our social media age, with the likes of Fenty Beauty impressively demonstrating the reach of marketing strategies over social platforms, many young people are taking advantage of the concomitance of social media, beauty and artistic creativity. Nineteen-yearold Rebecca Mahfood is one such person.

Mahfood is a young artist practising professional creativity in make-up art and design. She has designed costumes for the Xaymaca... read more

It’s a long way from idle, youthful days spent climbing mango trees in St Mary to strutting the runways of Paris for such luxury fashion labels as Balenciaga and Celine. However, for Saint International model Christine Willis, it’s all part and parcel of her fabulously fulfilling journey in becoming one of Jamaica’s hottest fashion stars of the moment.

Scouted by Saint International CEO Deiwght Peters in 2016 at her alma mater, Tacky High, on one of the globally recognised model-maker’s school searches in the banana-producing parish, the then 16- year-old Willis knew very little of... read more