'A long time coming' ... Tasha-Masha’s mentor hails Rising Stars winner

Tasha-gay 'Tasha-Masha' Solomon's mentor, Jenneta Brown-Chin, said the 18-year-old singer has been working for recognition for a long time.

"It's been a long time coming," said Brown-Chin on Sunday after the St Ann native was crowned this year's Digicel Rising Star.

"I have watched Tasha-gay grow as her teacher at the Brown's Town High School," she said.

Brown-Chin, determined to be part of the live studio audience at TVJ on Sunday, along with some of Solomon's relatives and friends, rented vehicles to travel from St Ann to attend the season 15 finale.

The music teacher of five years shared that Solomon's talent was discovered when she joined the music club at her former high school in 2015. For three years, the up-and-coming singer represented the school in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) festival competitions.

"Her participation in the JCDC festival competitions helped her develop the vocals Jamaicans have come to appreciate, and she deserves every win," said Brown-Chin.

She shared that the Digicel Rising Stars winner never failed to bring home the gold at the JCDC parish and national finals, including the title of Most Outstanding Performer in the negro spirital category. She won the national trophy this year and previously in 2017.

"Tasha-gay is multitalented in the visual and performing arts. Outside of singing, she is also a painter and has excelled in this subject area, which she passed in the CSEC examinations," she said. "Tasha-gay has a strong determination to excel and has proven to be very attentive and humble."

In addition to festival competitions, Solomon entered the Noranda Bauxite Community in Brown's Town talent show last year with her friend, Saskie Smith. They won the competition and took home a cash prize of $100,000. The Digicel Rising Stars winner has previously received cash scholarships twice from the Jamaica Music Camp, where she was able to interact with recording artiste Tessanne Chin, The Voice Season 5 winner, who was there as a vocal master teacher.

As a mentor, Brown-Chin says she could not ask for a better student.

"I believe I have been one of the main driving forces in her life for the past three years," Brown-Chin said.