AS TOLD TO BC PIRES
My name is Kesha Quash and I was Miss Trinidad and Tobago Carival 2006.
From age 11-18, we nestled in Santa Cruz, which was a dream, because it was a little village. Around Christmas, all the neighbours would come together. And you’re paranging!
Santa Cruz was ideal, just hidden away in a little nook in a mountain. The gorgeous greenery.
I guess that’s why I love nature so much. It takes me back to my childhood I enjoyed so much.
I’m the first grandchild of 13 children.
My dad was the first of 13 children from my grandparents.
And I’m the third/second of five daughters, all girls, from my mom, Laura and my dad James.
Listen, I had no attention as a child, I’m not joking.
My eldest sister is Sandy, but the first two are a twin (sic), so there’s Cindy, then came myself.
Then the third/fourth, Kimlin, is a tomboy, the son Mummy never had.
And the last, Karissa, is the golden child, and I was there sitting in the middle with real Middle Child Syndrome. “Hello! Don’t forget I’m over here, guys!”
But because I clung to my mother, now as we are older, everyone secretly knows Kesha is the favourite, but we don’t admit it.
It paid off perfectly.
Growing up, I never had an identity of my own. I was always Sandy’s or Kim’s or somebody’s sister.
Now, if you tell me your name, I make sure I get it right. So I made it my mission to make everyone pronounce my name correctly. I have no “I” in Kesha.
It’s a dainty name, like a flower, but all my life I’ve got wrong spelling, wrong pronunciation, even in tertiary-level education.
I had this one lecturer who always called me Kasha Quashie. Every time!
I waited for the whole roll to call and when she asked if anyone didn’t hear their name, I said, “You didn’t call Kesha Quash.”
She said, “I did.”
I said, “No, you called Casha Squashie!”
She never got my name wrong after that.
And thanks but no, BC Pires, I don’t want to get even with her by calling her name wrong in a national newspaper!
We grew up Catholic, but my parents were never strict to hold us to one religion.
As I got older, I converted into the Presbyterian faith. And then I
went off on full gospel/Pentecost!
The singing and dancing and worshipping is right up my alley because I’m an expressive person
when I’m ready.
I won’t try to convert anyone, ‘cause it’s not my place.
[caption id="attachment_982339" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Kesha Quash: "Right now I do eyelashes, micro-blading, I’m a nutritional coach working with diabetics and I do other things. - Mark Lyndersay[/caption]
I can only share my experiences of being in places where you hit rock bottom and I’d ask God for his guidance and protection.
And – I’m not going to lie – I believe there’s a God. Things
