Culture
JAM | Mar 18, 2022

5 things to know about Jamaican fashion stylist Bootleg Rocstar

Juanique Tennant

Juanique Tennant / Our Today

Reading Time: 2 minutes
Jamaican fashion stylist Neko ‘Bootleg Rocstar’ Kelly. (Photo: Instagram @Bootlegrocstar)

Neko Kelly, better known to the world as Bootleg Rocstar, is a Jamaican fashion stylist and creative director who eats, sleeps, and breathes fashion.

Determining from a young age that he wanted to become the next big thing in the fashion industry globally, Kelly has been working tirelessly for close to eight years to achieve just that.

Behind his adored media personality, Bootleg Rocstar is known to friends and family as a motivated, intelligent and hardworking soul.

Jamaican fashion stylist Neko ‘Bootleg Rocstar’ Kelly. (Photo: Instagram @Bootlegrocstar)

So, without further delay, here are five things to know about Jamaica’s fashionista extraordinaire Bootleg Rocstar!

1. He’s a St Catherine native

Kelly was born and raised in the fishing village of Old Harbour Bay, St Catherine – a community that sowed the seed of ambition, which he today is the fruit of.

2. He’s a past student of the University of the West Indies

After years of dreaming about making his name in the fashion industry, opportunity knocked on Kelly’s door as a first-year student at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, majoring in Language and Communication.

Jamaican fashion stylist Neko ‘Bootleg Rocstar’ Kelly. (Photo: Instagram @Bootlegrocstar)

3. He’s a Prime Minister’s Youth Awardee

For Kelly, one of his biggest accomplishments to date is becoming the 2022 Prime Minister’s Youth Awardee for Excellence in Arts and Culture – an achievement he credits to the work, prayer, and sacrifices of his parents.

4. He’s ‘Styled to Roc’ both local and international names

During his fashion career, Kelly has had the distinct pleasure of styling a few international favourites including Rita Ora and Keke Palmer. He has also styled countless local names such as Beenie Man, Masicka, Nadine Sutherland and Shaneil Muir, to name a few.

5. His family has heavily influenced his craft

Kelly recalls growing up in a very fashion-forward family, with a father who would never be caught without a gold ring on every finger and a fashion-savvy mother who would dress him in trendy outfits. 

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