2011 Digicel Rising Star : Chantal ‘Tash’ Lamont

Chantal ‘Tash’ Lamont

After 12 long weeks of performance shows, Jamaica has finally chosen their 2011 Digicel Rising star.

Seventeen year old Chantal Lamont aka Tash, set the bar high in the beginning of the season, and for the most part maintained her standard, until it all finally paid off.

“I feel wonderful, I feel great! Actually doing so much hard work and it paid off? Awesome!” she said moments after being announced the winner.

Jamaicans carried Tash all season like a favourite football team, but do they really know who Tash is? Hailing from St. Thomas, the intriguing and eccentric Tash, raised primarily by her grandmother, is a recent graduate of the Yallahs High School. “I have graduated, yes, but them call me back, and said come back to school Monday morning, because I never got to do all of my subjects.” She said noting that she has to meet the minimum CXC subject requirements to take advantage of one of her prizes, a one year scholarship to the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.

Her most memorable performance, and eclectic, high energy performance of Beyonce and Lady Gaga’s Telephone, blew the minds of voters and viewers alike and will definitely go down in Digicel Rising Star History as the performance that sealed the deal ! 

Now that she finally has the title she has worked so hard for, what’s next? “By the end of next year mi supposed to have, hopefully three or more albums” noting that she is eager to work with artistes such as Taurus Riley, I-Octane, Wayne Marshall, Shaggy and hopefully, even Lady Gaga, “I love her!”

Apart from her title Digicel’s 2011 Rising Star, and her scholarship to the Edna Manley College, Chantal ‘Tash’ Lamont also walks away with a cheque for $1Million, a BlackBerry smart phone, a record single and a music video .