Veteran reggae singer Nadine Sutherland is taking a stand against ageism which she says continues to plague women in the local entertainment industry.

The 56-year-old ‘Action‘ hitmaker revealed in a Facebook video that ageism is no longer an issue in her life.

In her quest to reclaim the concept of ageing gracefully and being proud of each stage of life, she would often include her age in conversations. According to Sutherland, this resulted in her father constantly being shocked at his daughter’s pride in her age.

“You are probably the only woman I know who is always shouting her age,” she recalled him saying.

She says it all started when she entered the music industry and realised the prevalence of ageism. Sutherland revealed that after having to hide her age for many years, a powerful resentment toward whoever made that rule grew.

“I was ‘old’ at thirty because I was in the music industry,” She laughed, “Women in the music industry, mi know some of your secrets you know, mi know unno tek off all 10 years and all of that.”

Sutherland stated that she decided that ageing is “natural stuff” and she is proud to be an older woman.

“When I say my age out loud, I am doing it for the women in my age group who came before me that could not do what I am doing,” she said, mentioning that she is also doing this for the young women coming up in the entertainment industry.

Sutherland, who has been performing since 1980, released her latest song ‘Can’t Stop Me From Smiling‘.