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It was a fabulous turnout for the premiere of the Devil Wears Prada 2 hosted by the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) at the Carib cinema in Kingston.

Personalities and dignitaries walked the red carpet. There can be little doubt that Jamaica has plenty of fashionable ladies.

Cocktails were served in the foyer, and it was a good opportunity to catch up.

This event drew a crowd, and kudos go to Renee Menzies-McCullum, Roxann Linton, Grace Burnett and the rest of the team at WLI for organising this premiere and turning Carib into a veritable fashion venue. 

Among those who attended the premiere were Gail Abrahams, Shakera Campbell, Nicola Madden Geig, Lisa Lewis, Eva Lewis, Natalie Chin-Samuda, Thalia Lyn, Sheila Benjamin-McNeil, Bernadette Barrow, Laura  Heron, Debra Taylor-Smith, Meaghan Mc Connell Perkins

The Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) was launched in 2004 by former US Ambassador to Jamaica, Sue Cobb. WLI is a special Committee of the United Way of Jamaica (UWJ), which promotes sisterhood and the advancement of women and girls while contributing to nation-building.  Members of the WLI are all CEOs or senior executives of corporate companies and entrepreneurs in Jamaica.

WLI  has consistently championed impact across four core pillars: Health, Early Childhood Education, Mentorship, and Advocacy. Through its work, WLI continues to support and uplift communities in tangible and lasting ways. Through its parent body, the United Way of Jamaica, the initiative has provided critical assistance to female farmers in St. Elizabeth recovering from hurricane-related losses. It has also recently concluded another impactful staging of its “Conversations with Boys” programme, equipping young men transitioning into secondary education with guidance and support.

Proceeds from the premiere of the Devil Wears Prada 2 will directly support these initiatives, ensuring that every moment of glamour contributes to real, measurable change.

The event was supported by sponsors Jamaica Observer, Select Brands, Edgechem, Sagicor Group Jamaica, Barita Investments Limited, InnerHub Consulting Services Ltd., Allied Insurance Brokers, Popeyes, Island Grill, Palace Amusement Company, and S.E.A.R 274.

This premiere recalled the sterling contribution made to the WLI by the late Marcia Erskine, and she was present in spirit. She would have loved this event. It was fitting that her trusted partner, Tracia Miller and Marcia’s son, Machel, who both now operate Marcia Erskine & Associates, contributed to making this event a rip-roaring success. 

The Devil Wears Prada 2 moves on, twenty years from the original story in 2006. Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) is still at her supercilious, condescending best, supported as ever by Nigel (Stanley Tucci). Here, both Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) and Emily (Emily Blunt) have evolved from young women in their twenties, uncertain and unsure to women facing grown-up challenges in their forties.

This is a movie about the changes wrought on traditional publishing by the digital age and the future of fashion magazines. It is about character and how one values friends and colleagues. The Devil Wears Prada 2 delivers some sparkling bon mots, and good writing is still the spine of movie-making.  That speech, Miranda Priestly makes to Andy Sachs while taking in a painting of Jesus Christ at the last supper, is memorable.  Some of the scenes set in Milan are stunning.

All in all, it is an entertaining movie. Some say this sequel is not as good as the original-then again they never are.

Ciao bella!