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COLE BAY – The countdown is on for Victorious Living’s Leader Worth Following Awards on December 3.

At this first Leader Worth Following Awards, VLF will recognize and award Dame Asha Stevens-Mohabier, Ambassador Alicia Liverpool, and posthumously, Officer Gamali Benjamin as leaders worth following. Mhakeda Shillingford, Jim Housen and Roy Cotton, Jr., who were among the finalists, will also be recognized at this event.

Keynote speaker for is certified John C. Maxwell Coach Nelson Els. Among the entertainment are: King of Sax Connis Vanterpool and the hilarious Rosa Richardson. MCs for the event are past members of Y2X, VLF’s youth wing, author and entrepreneur Darren Wilson and statistician Joy-Ann Van Arneman. Past Y2Xer, and popular recording artist Shawn J. will render his unique interpretation of the St. Maarten Song.

Victorious Living has added another aspect to the Awards: an art exhibit featuring two of St. Maarten’s rising local artists, Leola Cotton and Lindy Joseph Jacquet. Cotton, a “daughter of the soil,” was born in Philipsburg in 1984. From an early age she took an interest in sketching cartoon characters. For a short time she took lessons from the revered and renowned Ruby Bute. Five years ago, Cotton resumed her drawing, but this time took it to another level.

“Art is freedom. It is a place to go to for rejuvenation,” Cotton stated. She taps into her inner feelings and expresses them on canvas. Her painting replaces the daily struggles, joys and surprises of life and rewards her with a sense of well-being. Her predominant painting style is abstract, but expands beyond that. Some forms of her art pieces are Abstract Impressionism, and Lyrical Abstraction. On November 1, 2015, Cotton opened New Way (Era) Art Gallery with future endeavors to open an Art School.

Lindy Joseph Jacquet, born in St. Lucia, discovered her artistic abilities at a very young age. It is in her teenage years, however, that her love for art was forged. Adulthood has taught her to appreciate life and the beauty it beholds. Jacquet said, “My pieces signify HOPE and light because despite the struggles in life, one can always see the brighter picture.” Currently, she takes painting classes from teacher Tess from Holland. Her latest collection has been exhibited at Axum Art Cafe, and at the National Institute of Arts (NIA). In the future, Jacquet aspires to go global with her paintings and one day, own her art gallery.

Tickets for VLF’s Leader Worth Following Awards are available at Van Dorp, Adolphus Richardson Office Supplies and Victorious Living located at Royal Palm Plaza #92, Front Street, Philipsburg. Visit www.victoriouslivingsxm.org; e-mail kamgumbsvlf@gmail.com or call (721) 524-8731 for details.