In Full Bloom: A Weekend of Pinky Promises

A celebration of femininity, faith, and the power of community.

There’s a special kind of light that appears when women gather with intention. It’s not harsh or hurried; it’s a soft glow that lingers in the air, the kind that feels like safety and possibility at once. That was the energy that filled Locale last Saturday as hues of blush, rose, and fuchsia moved through the space like petals in bloom.

The afternoon unfolded as more than an event, it was a promise! Together with Jamaican designer Yolvinta, who launched his limited-edition Shades of Pink collection, we wanted to welcome October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with something meaningful. The idea was simple: to give people a moment to pause, to connect, and to shop with purpose. Every purchase, every conversation, every laugh shared was an act of intention… a reminder that beauty and giving can exist in the same breath!

Through our partnership with the Sagicor Foundation, part proceeds from the day supported the Jamaica Cancer Society, allowing our community to directly impact the lives of women across the island. The Locale team, our Locale Ladies, all wore matching pink tees reading Locale for Life – a new umbrella for our outreach initiatives. It felt right: lighthearted and strong at once. Around the Hummingbird bar, glasses clinked over Cotton Kiss cocktails courtesy of CPJ Beverages, while friends lingered at the bar, sharing stories that fluttered between laughter and tears.

Radiant ladies showed up dressed in every shade of pink imaginable, radiating confidence, beauty, and unity. Some were breast cancer survivors who shared their powerful stories of hope, resilience, and faith, reminding us all of the importance of early detection and support.

“I was grateful to be there sharing inspiration through my jewellery, reminding each woman that she is strong, powerful, and whole,” shared Inzzpire365, one of our beloved MoDA makers. “Moments like these remind me why I do what I do – to use creativity and faith to uplift others.”

The Heart of the Afternoon

When the conversation began, everything shifted. Moderated by Dr. Dainia Baugh, the panel brought together Michelle Ottey, Stacey Hines, and Loeri Robinson – women whose experiences with breast cancer and wellness transformed the room into a place of deep listening. 

Michelle, a three-year survivor who speaks of “magic and miracles,” reminded everyone that healing begins with trust – the kind we place in our bodies and in our faith. “Your body will tell you what it needs,” she said, “you just have to listen”. 

“It’s a strange thing to say, but cancer has been a gift. A gift that made me realize what’s important to me. Since my miraculous healing journey from cancer, I live more fully and more intentionally. Three 3 years after being cancer free, I’m living my best life. May the magic and miracles continue.”

From there, the energy softened into reflection. Stacey Hines, author and wellness strategist, described her 15-year journey as a survivor. She smiled as she looked around the space:

“Pink[y] Promise at Locale was a homecoming. After 15 years of survivorship, I've learned that healing happens in community, and this event proved that beautifully. The space allowed for honest, heartfelt conversations about self-love, prioritization, and breast cancer awareness in a way that felt both intimate and empowering.”

Her words hung in the air, almost visible, with nods of recognition around the room. Stacey spoke of balance, of the delicate dance between ambition and peace, of what it means to rebuild from the inside out. And when Loeri Robinson from Sagicor added her perspective, that protecting our health and planning for our futures is also a form of love and self care – the message came full circle: care begins long before crisis, and community sustains it long after.

By the time the panel ended, the air felt different. There was a quiet understanding that strength doesn’t always look like stoicism, and that the most powerful thing a woman can do is allow herself to be held.

Longtime friend and patron Rose Tavares-Finson captured it best when she said,

“Being part of a community is essential. During great moments in our lives, and more importantly during difficult times, community becomes stronger and more meaningful. Pinky Promise and events like this start and build bonds with like-minded individuals. We learn from each other. We strive. We grow.”

And that’s what this day became; an unfolding reminder that healing isn’t a solitary act. It’s a shared rhythm, passed between laughter and tears, between the quiet strength of a woman telling her story and the soft nods of those listening who’ve lived their own. The pink hues that filled the space weren’t just a palette, they were a feeling… the collective warmth of women showing up for one another in every shade of strength and softness.

As the afternoon faded into gold, conversations lingered, laughter spilled easily, and small groups huddled near the Pinky Promise Wall, writing their own messages of hope and remembrance. Underneath fluttering notes of gratitude, encouragement, and love, it felt like something was taking root; a kind of quiet revolution built on care and sisterhood.

This was never just an event; it was a gentle awakening. An affirmation that community is our greatest luxury, one that cannot be bought, only built! It’s found in the touch on a shoulder, the shared glance that says “I understand,” the willingness to show up again and again, not just for ourselves but for each other.

To everyone who joined us, thank you! For your presence, your openness, and your promise. You are the heart of Locale.

As we move beyond October, we carry the glow of that afternoon with us – the laughter, the learning, the love. Because a pinky promise is more than a gesture; it’s a commitment to care for our bodies, for our stories, and for the women beside us.

At Locale, WE PROMISE to keep making space for that care to blossom through community, through creativity, through moments that remind us we are stronger, softer, and more radiant together.

With love,

Your Locale Ladies