Jacqui Koon How 42 years in mas production

“This is my life. I enjoy waking up in the morning to look at the designs that were created the day before. It is amazing how this creative art can capture one’s heart and soul,” she stated smilingly. This is the pleasant face that greets all the people who come to her on a daily basis. Even though she could not spare the time for a full interview, she spoke while answering important phone calls and greeting customers who are making a final visit before Carnival to try on their costume.

Come Carnival 150 children will take to the stage in Jacqui’s band named, “Indians of the Americas”. She chose a historical theme this year as a source of educating the young people involved. “There are so many themes that we can explore. But we opted to bring back some of the old-time mas with the use of feathers and spears to giving the young masqueraders the opportunity to relive this experience,” she said. Adding that she was toying with the idea of American Indians for many years.

Apart from this, Jacqui is doing a section in Ivan Kallicharan’s band “Spectrum of the Sea”. She is also producing costumes for Guyana Carnival which will take place during the same time as Carnival in TT. A busy Jacqui said although it is a difficult task she loves to design for children. “As compared to adults, children are more fussy. They will not wear anything that is not one hundred percent comfortable. This why we take a long time in creating costumes that can suit the children,” she explained. Noting that she must keep the costumes looking bright and beautiful to impact on the viewers on TV and before the live audience. Jacqui is also known for her involvement in the world of fashion and for producing beauty queens in southland. Her modelling agency of the “House of Jacqui” has grown to be one of the best in the country today. “This is a very fulfilling job. Where you can train the young ladies to excel in the way they walk and talk and present themselves to the public,” she said. Emphasising that she has been producing winning contestants in mas and Best Village for many years, she is now one of the consultants of the Ministry of Culture in Best Village La Riene competition.

In the early days Jacqui taught English and Art at St Benedict’s College. Then, she travelled to Canada to further her knowledge of art, and returned home with a diploma in fine arts. She later obtained a job as a “fashion buyer” and got an opportunity to hold a fashion show. She realised that models were lacking in their deportation and she was convinced that she had to start training the young women for the stage. “When you train these young women it’s like giving them a lesson in life. They are all transformed for the contest. They go on to lead better lives and this is what I am so proud,” she admits. Saying that while this project is not financially rewarding, it helps her to give back to society as she enjoys working with young people.

Jacqui has a kind voice and simple persona that make her admirable. She is very accommodating even in the busiest time of the year. She remains a genuine individual who is prepared to work and bring out the best in those who are wishing to portray mas in the country.

Jacqui is one of the persons who have changed the face of mas in San Fernando. “What I do has an impact on different aspects of culture, “she said. The modelling agency has a personality development course where 20 women are trained per year. If one was to multiply that number by 42, this will be the final figure of beauty queens that have passed through her hands. “ I have tried to touch the lives of many women. Also, through fashion we are able to assist many groups in doing charitable fund-raisers. Then the girls get the opportunity to represent Trinidad and Tobago in different Caribbean countries and the outside world.

Jacqui said that there are many schools in San Fernando which have ongoing arts and craft competitions for Carnival each year. She knows about this as many of the parents approach her to help in building a costume for their children. “Now I am very opposed to this as I am of the belief that the child should explore their own creative talent,” she said. Adding that if her parents did not allow her to explore her creative talent, she would not know anything about the art today.

Her parents encouraged and supported her in her quest to design even as a child, her father being Laurence Koon How and mother Isa Mc Pherson. Laurence, who is Chinese, worked as a druggist and Isa is a Mulatto who worked as a florist in San Fernando. They were always at her side in all her projects as a young person. She attended St Joseph Convent San Fernando from primary school to “A” level examinations. She was a designer since she was seven years old. She went on to receive the National Award (Humming Bird Gold Medal ) in 2004 for the development of beauty culture and mas in TT.

Apart from designing, she also has a passion for collecting artwork of elephants and has more than 600 miniatures pieces. Jacqui was married to Ronald Joseph and has three children, namely, Kamla Joseph Regrello, Naiguum and Tsai Ann Joseph. Her three kids are all involved in different aspects of Carnival.