She had the best tutors in mas making. With the late George and Alvin Bailey for uncles, it was only a matter of time before Alandra Bailey found herself in the family's mas camp in Woodbrook, designing costumes for her own band. At 22, she is this country's youngest Carnival designer. She was also recognised by the Ministry of The People and Social Development last year, when she was the recipient of its highest award in the category of Art and Culture. "I started designing at the age of 14," she said with an innocent smile. "I was always drawing fashionable dresses whenever I got time to draw, and one day the thought of designing popped into my head. But it wasn't until my teacher noticed one of my drawings one day in class and was blown away by it, that I really began to look at my art more seriously."
It was meant to be
As fate would have had it, while Bailey was now recognising her creative side, a telephone call from her grandfather and mas man, Albert Bailey, confirmed that it was truly her time to begin the next generation of Bailey mas designers. "My grandfather was in St Croix at the time, he called and asked me: 'Alandra could you design the children's band for me?' I agreed, and in 2003 I presented Hats Off To The Bailey Brothers, which was extremely successful." Since then, Bailey has continued to make presentations every year. This year she is presenting Waka Waka, inspired by the 2010, Football World Cup in South Africa. "When I saw the presentation by the South African dancers at the opening of the World Cup, I immediately fell in love with their costumes, and that was my inspiration really," Bailey said. But Bailey hasn't limited herself to T&T Carnival. Her creativity has also been seen in Carnival bands for Brooklyn and Miami Carnival.
My illness never stops me
Bailey, a final year student majoring in Carnival Arts at UTT, is also epileptic. But she vowed she had never allowed her illness to control her life. "I have epilepsy, but the only time I know I have it is when I get a seizure. Other than that, I don't walk around thinking about it. "I am just happy that I have been blessed in so many ways that I don't even have the time to think of my disability as a damaging or dark part of my life," declared Alandra.
Advice
Asked what advice she had for young upcoming mas men and women, Bailey said: "Just go for it, don't let anyone get you down. Keep focused and follow your dreams."
For more information on the band contact Lee Ann Bailey at 768-3339.