4 months ago
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WESTERN BUREAU:
In a celebration of resilience, vulnerability, and the transformative power of storytelling, the fourth annual What’s Your Story, Jamaica?, competition captivated audiences and judges alike last week Saturday at the Half Moon Conference Centre in Montego Bay.
This year’s finalists of 10 remarkable range of storytellers – from a spirited 17-year-old to a wise 90-year-old – and awarded a total of $750,000 in prizes to the best of the best.
Jamaican author and cultural activist, Sharon Gordon, emerged as the champion with her stirring narrative, All That Glitters. Her story, a raw and honest depiction of love, heartbreak, and ultimate healing, resonated deeply with the packed conference room of people who heard it.
“I was afraid to share this story because I was ashamed. It was painful,” Gordon confessed during an interview with The Sunday Gleaner days after taking home $375,000 in prize money.
With the supportive encouragement of coach and producer Deborah Ehrhardt, she found the courage to rewrite her painful memories into a narrative that could help others heal. “She said it would free me, and it would free so many others if they could hear a story like this,” Gordon recalled.
Her experience recounts a devastating break-up that left her shattered.
“I was broken and shattered. I loved this person. I thought this was a match made in heaven, until the red flags appeared and I ignored them,” she said. The heartbreak was compounded by the silence that followed: “He ghosted me. There was no closure, no goodbye.” Yet, through the process of rewriting and sharing her truth, Gordon discovered an inner strength and resilience she never knew she had.
The story of All That Glitters is more than a recounting of personal loss; it is a testament to transformation. “I am healed,” she declared confidently. “I feel empowered. I know that I’m a bounce-back person.” Her journey from feeling broken to reclaiming her identity, mirrors the spirit of the competition: using the art of storytelling to turn pain into a crown of strength.
The man she fell for, nicknamed ‘Scotchy’, a play on the popular hot scotch bonnet pepper, literally burned her heart. He arrived in her life when she least expected it. Their whirlwind romance defied all, as she found herself swept up in a love story that started with an unshakable connection.
Their love was vibrant, filled with firsts. Whether it was new adventures, unforgettable celebrations, or simply enjoying the everyday moments, it seemed as though life was offering them a beautiful gift. But just as Gordon faced an unexpected storm after the loss of her father, she encountered a moment that would test the very foundation of their relationship.
“Superstitions, personal beliefs, and the weight of the past crept in, challenging what seemed unshakable,” she reminisced. Differences surfaced, tensions grew, and what was once unbreakable began to crack. Just as Gordon found herself questioning whether love could withstand such pressures, she was forced to confront the reality that not all love stories end with happily ever after.
Her healing took place at Half Moon during Hurricane Beryl, while she received solace from ‘J Wray and his Nephew’ on the beach. Gordon buried that pain months ago, and returned to Jamaica to the same resort grounds to for the harbinger of exciting new beginnings.
“Half Moon was where I was healed and where I returned to win this storytelling competition.”
In recent weeks, she has been performing sold-out shows at the Apollo, is on the cusp of releasing her début novel ‘Sheribaby’, and is enjoying transformative retreats in Canada.
“It’s as if God is taking my ashes and my pain and making it into a crown on my head,” she reflected, capturing the essence of her metamorphosis.
Sharing the spotlight with Gordon, were second-place winner, Shalayne Walker, whose riveting piece Country Pickney Come to Town, had the audience transfixed. Walker’s story about her first time taking the bus to attend school in Kingston, and getting lost, resonated deeply with the attendees, while third-place winner Maria Barrett’s Van-tas-tic Voyage delighted the crowd with a vibrant and comedic narrative that had them in fits of laughter.
Their unique style and engaging delivery demonstrated the versatility of storytelling as both an art form and a means of entertainment.
“Our storytellers all exceeded my expectations. They poured their hearts into writing, rewriting, and practising relentlessly. This year, we had both the youngest and oldest storytellers ever to compete, proving that anyone with a great story can enter,” said the producer.
According to her, the finals are always unpredictable. Nerves, pressure, the big moment, the cash prize on the line – the energy, which was electric.
“Some contestants even performed stronger in the semi-finals, but in the end, I believe everyone earned their spots. And with every audience bringing a different energy, no two competitions are ever the same. That’s what makes it so thrilling,” shared Ehrhardt.
What’s Your Story, Jamaica? is not just a contest. It is a movement encouraging individuals to share their most intimate experiences, learn from them, and empower others along the way. Sharon Gordon’s victory was a reminder that every story, no matter how painful, holds the power to inspire and transform.
English (US) ·