Chambers
Avia Ustanny, Outlook Writer
ODESSA! THE NAME melts in the mouth like a rich dessert. statuesque and goddess like, standing five feet, eight inches in bare feet, Odessa Chambers is a child of Africa and more specifically, daughter of reggae superstar Jimmy Cliff .
Born to the singer and to mom film director Bluette Abraham's in London, Odessa packed her bags almost a decade ago and came home to sunny Jamaica to fulfil her dream of living and working in the Caribbean as a "media mogul".
Her lifelong goal is to host, produce and direct her own programmes on television. Today, Odessa, dubbed the 'British Butterfly', is pretty
close to her dream.
But, it's not all about succeeding in her own right.
"I came to Jamaica because I wanted to make a change here," she said relaxing during our recent interview at the Hilton hotel.
She started by working for three years with Chris Blackwell in A&R Publicity and Promotion for his Island Jamaica Records label.
She recalls, "working with this label got me to travel within the Diaspora to listen, learn more about the music and culture."
It also led to her first job in broadcast with Television of Jamaica reporting for "Entertainment Report". In addition, she co-produced and hosted entertainment news spot for their morning show "Morning Time".
Her work on TV, she said, has elicited many words of appreciation from young girls in the island who just love having a role model who looks like them.
Inspiring blacks
"Me being a dark-skinned girl, the way I dress-it is inspiring to them to see someone who looks like them on TV."
Odessa does not know what it is to act like a super star's daughter.
Living and growing among several other siblings in Somerton, St. James (she spent six months out of every year in Jamaica) during the summer time has meant 100 per cent validation as a coloured person.
Not for her has been a life of alienation known to those who live all their lives in London as a black person.
Her father, she said, was a very good dad who even today is known in the entertainment industry for his commitment to his children.
"He was always working, touring, producing his music, doing what he does best, but he still spent a lot of time with all of us."
She never knew
She never really knew, she said, that her dad was a superstar because he lived a very simple lifestyle. The truth only came home one day when he arrived at her school in London in a chauffeured Bentley to pick her up. Then later in Jamaica, she was fully exposed to the hype and she knew.
"It still did not affect me because dad is a very humble person and he has taught us to be humble. I feel I am an average person. "
Meanwhile, in the time spent with her mother she was introduced to the world of theatre and was fully exposed to the arts. Her mother, she said, stayed at home until when Odessa was 15 she decided to get her degree in film and video. That was an inspiration to the teenager.
Although much of her life has been spent around entertainers, Odessa says that she has never wanted either to sing or act. Instead, she has been fascinated with promotions.
"My father always said that it was important to learn the business side of entertainment."
This was perhaps why she decided to do marketing communications at London College of Distributive Trades.
After graduating, she threw a big party on her 21st birthday, said goodbye to everyone and came to Jamaica where she has remained.
In 2000, Odessa decided that the time was right to launch OCM, an entertainment PR and production company. She also hosts 'Outta Control' on Music TV Jamaica, in which viewers are informed, educated and stimulated during the 30 minutes of the show. Entertainer Courtney John, aka 'Yogie' who has worked closely with her, says Odessa stands for integrity and shrewdness.
"Integrity because she is trustworthy and she is the kind of person that you don't think would stab you in the back. Her honesty is very hard to come by in this industry."
"Shrewd because she knows what she wants. Not that she is going to step on anyone to get it, but she knows what she wants and she goes after it," he said.
Hard-driven Odessa nevertheless knows how to relax too. She loves the gym and adores music. Her collection stretches from rock 'n roll to reggae to drum and bass and hip hop. She also loves reality TV and daydreams about making her business and programmes grow.
Wide awake, she exudes a high level of positivity and panache, something she wishes more Jamaican girls had.
She is working on her dreams and in the process she is being the role model that Jamaican girls have always needed.
