Shante Sinclair makes creative comeback

Securing first place for photography in the 2025 Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Heritage Competition meant far more to Shante Sinclair than adding another accolade to her resume.

The victory signalled a powerful comeback to the creative world she had quietly stepped away from while wrestling with uncertainty about her future.

"I normally would do art but I took a break because I was trying to figure out what I should do. Should I go the route of just straight art or should I pursue something that's, like, a little bit more traditional? I went ahead with just sticking to something more traditional. I am definitely motivated to get back into my creativity," she told JIS, following the awards ceremony, held on February 17 at Summit Kingston.

Now a computing student at the University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica, Sinclair said she stumbled upon the competition while scrolling through Instagram. Once she saw the theme, 'Honouring Our People, Protecting the Future', inspiration struck instantly.

"I thought that it would be good to include some icons that helped when it comes to forming our heritage and who we are as a people. I also thought that I would want to demonstrate it in a way as passing from one generation to the next," Sinclair explained.

Her winning image was layered with meaning. At its centre was an archery target board -- a nod to the unmistakable imprint Jamaican athletes have made on global athletics. She deepened the cultural resonance by drawing from the work of beloved poet and folklorist Louise Bennett-Coverley, affectionately called 'Miss Lou'.

"I also had a subject who was dressed in traditional wear (bandana), and she was reading a book with Miss Lou's poems in it to represent the passing down of our language from one generation to the next," she explained.

Despite the powerful symbolism, the project was executed in just two days. Sinclair credits her sister for being instrumental behind the scenes, providing steady encouragement and helping to bring the concept to life.

"She always tries to motivate me, especially because a lot of the times I'm not that confident in things that I create," she said.

Hearing her name called as the winner was almost unbelievable.

"Well, it feels very, very good and I am happy that, considering the circumstances of not doing it for a while and then I just kind of step into it and then, like, just hit this win. It feels really, really good. I'm very happy and I'm very grateful for the opportunity that JIS presented me," she said.

Her prize package reflected the scale of the achievement: a trophy; a two-night hotel stay courtesy of Sandals Resorts International; $30,000 in cash from JIS; a laptop computer sponsored by the Universal Service Fund (USF); and a $2,000 Domino's gift certificate.

Looking back on the experience, Sinclair hopes her journey will inspire others to push past self-doubt and embrace new opportunities.

"I would encourage others to enter. This is a great opportunity. Even if you don't win, I think that it's so good to challenge yourself," she said