Christopher steps into spotlight

“If you take any part of my body, leave my voice. If I were to lose my voice, I think I would suffer.”

Those are the words of Joeana Christopher, who after years of singing in the background, took a step into the spotlight to become one of the newest calypsonians in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

Despite being her first time participating in the national calypso competition, Christopher was able to advance to the calypso finals, where she placed third overall with her songs “Where all my good friends gone” and “Can’t we find a way.”

“I can’t believe it, because to actually beat people like Sulle and [Vibrating] Scakes; these are like soldiers in calypso and to go up against these people and do so well and as a woman too, I feel overwhelmed,” she told SEARCHLIGHT in a recent interview.

The aunt of reigning junior calypsonians, Kristian and Kristianna Christopher, said that she was always afraid of competition.

And she credits Clem Dopwell and his brother, Danette Dopwell, for penning her songs and pushing her to enter the 2017 competition.

But “female calypsonian” is not the only hat that this Layou resident wears.

Christopher is a trained aesthetician and throughout preparations in the Carnival season, she also had the task of keeping her business afloat.

Nestled into the corner of Layou’s black sand beach, where the river meets the sea, is ‘Oceana,’ a tiny spa fashioned from bamboo and built by Christopher and her husband, Michael Joseph.

“I remember when I built Oceana, people were laughing. They say the sea would take me away. And when I done fit up the place you know, it bring a bad mind. How come Labour Party give this girl … So I had to come with that song [Where all my good friends gone]; I had to bring that song to life,” she said.

At her spa, which has been open for the past four years, Christopher offers a variety of treatments, ranging from facials, manicures, pedicures, to full body and deep tissue massages.

The mother of two has accumulated over 18 years in the business, with her first set of training to become an aesthetician coming just months after finishing secondary school.

Back then, Christopher was known for playing netball and basketball.She was on the national under-16 team and was also the youngest netball player in her time to be selected to the West Indies netball team.

Christopher, the aunt of Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) player, Sophia Young, also attended Clarendon College in Texas on a basketball scholarship.

“I had a scholarship, but because of an injury, I had to come back. They kept me in the school because of my voice,” she told SEARCHLIGHT. “I joined the choir, not knowing what I would do and they kept me there still on the scholarship because I sang the American anthem very well.”

Christopher, the last of 12 children, said that life for her was by no means a walk in the park. But she says that being involved in so many activities has helped to develop her respect for self and others.

And throughout her struggles, music has been her constant.

For now, Christopher plans to focus some much needed time on her business and plans on hosting an August 1 event on the beach where families can come to relax and unwind and enjoy food and drinks.

She added that she offers group packages at her spa where food and drink are prepared for clients.

But it is her intention to enter the calypso competition, come 2018.

“I’m going all the way. I love it and it was fun,” she said, as she expressed thanks to Upstage Calypso Tent for also helping to achieve her singing dreams. She may be reached at 498-8687(BK)