‘Big booty’ performers add life to wakes

Kerry Ann Hamilton is a fashion designer and her mother, Ophelia Pierce, a security guard, but at nights they are known as 'Famous Mother and Daughter'.

The Old Harbour natives have been bringing cheers and liveliness to wakes/'setups' with their 'big booty' costumes for nearly a year.

"We go setup all over Jamaica and we just bring good vibes. We know setup is a sad occasion, but people laugh and excited when dem see we, and we make a little money. Jamaican man love big-bottom woman, so although ours are fake, and it's obvious, we still draw a lot of attention at the setup dem. People pop up any time we pull up anywhere, man," Hamilton said between laughter.

In addition to fashion designing, Hamilton does various jobs to make ends meet for herself and her four children. But she said the idea of entertaining at 'dead yards' came about last year after a few performers failed to show up at a party that her father was hosting.

"My dad, Roy Hamilton, is an entertainer in the form of a fire dancer, and there is this dance where you put on a big-bottom costume. So last year he had a party and he was supposed to have some of those ladies to perform, but it didn't work out. So I put on the big booty and say I was going to perform, but he said no," she said.

Hamilton said although she did not performe at the party, she was fascinated by her appearance in the costume and showed it off on the popular social media site TikTok.

"Mi mother then say me must make me and her start dress up in the big booty [outfits] and go road, because we done popular already. We do it and it just start shot off. Mi go on the road and car man a pull up and a ask if it real, and then mi go to an election party, and it went well. One a di time mi a go on the road and carry a box with mi when mi a go dance, and people start drop money in it when mi dance," Hamilton said.

She stated that while they are not raking in 'big bucks' from their performances, they are elated that their audience is smiling.

"There is so much going on and almost everyone is stressed, so to see people face light up is everything. We are here and we just want people to know that we are available to show up at setups or any other events that they are keeping. We and our big booties will be there," she said.