On December 18th, at Jamaica’s national stadium, ravenous fans enjoyed the show of a lifetime on the final leg of Grammy Award-winning artist Burna Boy’s Love, Damini Tour. Rising star Lila Iké opened the event with her one-of-a-kind voice and flow, stamping her name on the show. Dancehall icon Popcaan brought out the hits, stirring up the crowd in anticipation of the main event. However, attendees were surprised to hear not just the Burna Boy track featuring Popcaan, “Toni-Ann Singh” but a performance from Toni-Ann Singh herself.
Singh & Popcaan Chemistry
Singh was introduced by her rumored partner Popcaan to perform their joint track, “Next To Me.” This marked Singh’s on-stage debut as a performing artist, but if there were nerves, she hid them perfectly. Singh commanded the stage – effortlessly bopping around, perfectly hitting her notes, and at one point even directing the audience to sing by pointing the microphone at the crowd. Singh and Popcaan had incredible chemistry, seemingly singing only to each other as if there weren’t thousands of patrons watching live in person.
Former Miss World
While Singh’s stage presence might have surprised concert patrons, her talent with a microphone was never in doubt. The former Miss World, and the longest reigning, wowed judges in 2019 with her thoughtful answers and incredible singing prowess. When asked by judge Piers Morgan why she deserves the crown, she delivered this bombshell of an answer:“I think I represent something special; a generation of women that are pushing forward to change the world. I wouldn’t say that I’m different from any other women on this stage, but my passion for women and pouring into them, and making sure that they have the same opportunities that I have had, is something that sets me apart.” For her talent, she honored one of the all-time greatest performers, Whitney Houston, with a perfect rendition of the classic “I Have Nothing.” Her rendition was so soulful that after winning the crown she recorded her own cover, becoming the first winner to record a song to raise funds for the charitable arm of the Miss World Organization, Beauty With a Purpose.
New Career
The question now – Is this flirtation with the performing arts a one time thing? Responding to the Gleaner, Singh is frustratingly vague. “A little girl from St. Thomas became Miss World, so if there’s anything I can stand by, it’s that dreams are real and they can come true. If that [a recording career] is to be the case for me in this life, I am open to it.”
