Caribbean Entertainment Magazine (CEM) has compiled a list of the Caribbean’s most fascinating celebrity for 2012. The choices, chosen from a pool of celebrities from the English-speaking Caribbean, were based on their achievements and news breaking activities “that kept fans enthralled throughout the year.” Here are CEM’s picks and rationales:

10. TIFA – Jamaica: This Dancehall princess has made numerous headlines throughout 2012. From feuding with rival Lisa Hyper to self proclaiming “queen” of dancehall title.

9. Anya Ayoung-Chee – Trinidad: This former Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe, turned fashion designer and Project Runway’s ninth season winner. This beauty made headlines when she got engaged to her long-time boyfriend Wyatt Gallery. Anya also released her long awaited 2012 spring collection, which she premiered at New York Fashion Week Spring 2012. In November Anya was honored at the 19th Annual Caribbean American Heritage Awards (CARAH).

8. Konshens – Jamaica: Garfield Spence aka “Konshen” is a former army brat turned sensational entertainer. In 2012 he released his album Mental Maintenance. He was also nominated for the MOBO Awards in the “Best Reggae Act” Category. Konshens also ventured into field of fashion, when he released his first female clothing line called ‘Oh-K’.

7. Vybz Kartel – Jamaica: On 29 September 2011, Kartel was arrested by police and his troubles continued into 2012. On March 23, 2012 he was granted bail for Barrington ‘Bossie’ Burton, a 27-year-old businessman and music promoter. In July the embattled deejay released his first book Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto. Kartel saga will sure to continue into 2013, and this is why he made the list.

6. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce — Jamaica: Jamaican track and field sprinter, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce rose to prominence at the 2008 Olympic Games and became the first Caribbean woman to ever win 100 meter gold at the Olympics. She is currently ranked fourth on the list of the fastest 100 meter female sprinters of all time, with a personal best of 10.70 seconds, which she set in Kingston, Jamaica in 2012. At the London Olympic Fraser-Pryce regained her title by winning the 100 meters and was placed second at 200 meters and helped the Jamaica team secure second place in the 4 x 100 meters relay. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is among the athletes in the running for the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards 2013, which will be televised on March 11, 2013.

5. Sean Paul – Jamaica: In 2012 Sean Paul marries long time sweetheart Jodi “Jinx” Stewart in a lavish top secret wedding at the Boone Hall Oasis. His new album Tomahawk Technique was released early this year, which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Reggae Album. Sean Paul won the “Best Caribbean Performance” at the Soul Train Awards, the Best Reggae Video for “She Doesn’t Mind” at the MTV Video Music Awards in Japan. He also won the “Best Reggae Act” at the MOBO Awards, and was nominated for MTV Europe Music Award, for Best World Stage. 2012 was a great year for Sean Paul and it seems that 2013 will even be a better year.

4. Machel Montano — Trinidad: This Trinidadian has a career that span over thirty years but there is no slowing down for the soca “king”. In 2012 he released two albums “Double M” and “Going for Gold”. It was a very exciting year for Montano having won the Road March, Power Soca Monarch and the Groovy Soca Monarch. He also won Clamydia song “Clamydia” and he won the Groovy Soca Monarch with his rendition “Mr. Fete”. In May 2012 the singer launched the music video to his hit single “Bottle Of Rum”. Machel Montano also made headlines when he was found guilty on five criminal charges. Montano was found guilty on four charges of assault against Gerard Borwin, Brandis Browne, Janelle Lee Chee and Russell Pollonais. The other charge was that he was also found guilty of using obscene language during the same incident. His sentences will be on January 17, 2013. Indeed 2013 will be an interesting year for Machel.

3. Kirani James – Grenada: This Grenadian sprinter made history and became a hero in native island Grenada, after winning the 400 meters at London Olympics 2012. After returning to Grenada after his amazing performance, thousands lined the street in preparation of Kirani return, and he was greeted with an emphatic and vociferous national pride. Kirani was bequeathed government bonds totaling up to EC500,000, a commemorative stamp President Tillman Thomas announced that a new stadium be named after Kirani , and that he was appointed a tourism ambassador.

2. Rihanna – Barbados: This Bajan pop star seventh studio album, “Unapologetic”, was released on November 19, 2012, and was named the UK’s second biggest selling female singles artist of all time, with a combined singles sales tally as a lead artist of 11.4 million.

The album also became Rihanna’s third and fifth consecutive number one album in the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Her lead single from the album, “Diamonds” was released in September 2012 and has reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rihanna’s twelfth number one, thus tying her with Madonna and The Supremes for the fifth most number one songs in the chart’s history. As promotion prior to the album’s release, Rihanna embarked on the 777 Tour, a mini tour consisting of seven shows, in seven countries, lasting duration of seven days. Rihanna’s fifth headlining concert tour, the “Diamonds World Tour”, is set to begin in March 2013.

In April 2012, Rihanna was placed at number twenty on Time magazine’s list of the ‘100 Most Influential People in the World’. She was also named the best-selling digital artist of all time in the United States, having sold 58 million singles as a lead artist as of 2012. Rihanna was named “Obsession of the year 2012 by GQ Magazine.

1. Usain Bolt – Jamaica: At the summer Olympics in London, Usain Bolt proved that he is greatest athlete to live, when he became the first man to defend an Olympic sprint title since Carl Lewis in 1988. On 12 July 2012, Bolt and RockLive launched “Bolt”,a new iOS game based on the Jamaican sprinter. “Bolt!” quickly became the No. 1 app in Jamaica and climbed the UK iTunes charts to reach No. 2 on the list of Top Free Apps.

Bolt also add acting to his resume when he made a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live. The segment was a parody of the Vice Presidential debate between Joe Biden and Paul Ryan. He was nominated for the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year 2012 and the IAAF’s Male Athlete of the Year. He was also nominated for Laureus World Lubica Slovak Sportsman of the Year 2013. Bolt was also named “Athlete of the Year 2012”by GQ Magazine. [. . .]

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