( L - R )HAYES AND BROOKS
FLAIR MAGAZINE has been a constant in the lives of Jamaican women for 21 years. We have accompanied you on first dates, the heartbreaks and those extra special days.
On these pages, we place the spotlight on the team members who been at the helm over the years. The current team is led by Barbara Ellington, a former Coordinator.
Lovern Hayes
IT WAS very exciting but a lot of work. When I was given the responsibility Flair was going through a transitional period in terms of design. We tried to make the publication more interactive and tried to implement as much as possible, one of which was the 'Men at work'. I coordinated for about a year (2002-2003). It was an experience building a publication and it paid off but it was a lot of work.
Lovelette Brooks
AN EXCITED Lovelette Brooks took over as Flair Editor in the mid-1990s. Her main aim was to continue the tradition of presenting women's issues, fashion, beauty that the magazine had started. "And to really make the magazine exciting," she said.
Two features Ms. Brooks notes that started under her tenure were Flair Weddings and Flair Dating Games. "These piqued readers' interest and increased it's popularity."
Ms. Brooks notes that Flair was challenging and exciting. "However, it has maintained its standard and has still remained a must-read for women and men on a Monday morning. While she says, that the addition of a Men's Issue has enhanced the magazine.
"The exciting thing is that men like it too. Flair is your dating companion, your downtime companion, your weekly dose of oestrogen and a little testosterone to balance the oestrogen," said Ms. Brooks.
During her tenure she also started a series on Women Living With Aids. "It took me all over the place throughout Jamaica. It was very interesting as at that time people were slowly coming out. One of the stories of that series that had an impact was a woman in St. Thomas who was living with her common-law husband who didn't know. She was slowly dying and she didn't tell him as she was scared of losing her support base."
Ms. Brooks is currently Special Projects Editor at the Gleaner.
