Fayola K J Fraser
A familiar face to many Carnival lovers in T&T and throughout the Caribbean, Achsah Henry is the definition of a Carnival Queen. Henry was raised in the belly of Trinidad Carnival culture, growing up in D Yard, surrounded by the likes of 3canal, Machel Montano, Destra Garcia and Bunji Garlin. At three years old, she took the road by storm for the first time, playing mas in a custom Carnival costume with Peter Minshall alongside her mother and aunts.
Aside from her love for Carnival, Henry is also a trained dancer, and at the age of 16, she merged her two great loves, dance and Carnival. She began to perform as a backup dancer for 3canal, K Rich and many other soca artistes in the Soca Monarch competition. After three years performing with 3canal, Henry went on to dance for Kes The Band for a year. She rose to widespread popularity in 2020, when she joined Machel Montano and the Monk Band, as one of the dancers, and considers this community of performers her “home” ever since.
A woman of many talents, she is also a sought-after model and is the face of many brands’ marketing campaigns. She began modelling carnival costumes at the age of 16, debuting in Harts, where she almost immediately caught the attention of YUMA’s directors, becoming one of the four faces of the brand. Henry spent ten years with YUMA, and in 2022, she transitioned into a new role as a brand ambassador for TRIBE, and a member of their marketing team. Henry has modelled for every major carnival band locally, regionally and internationally, including most of the other Caribbean Carnivals, and continues to be coveted by many bands to model their costumes.
For Carnival 2024, Henry embarked on one of her most exciting journeys yet, as a section owner and leader for Trinidad Carnival, an alignment with her evolution of becoming the Carnival Queen known as Achsah Basha. Her Trinidad Carnival section, Oasis, is a frontline-only section that will bring to life the tenets of Henry’s core values, most notably, to make women feel their best, both inside and out. She also launched her own business for Carnival 2023, Road Royalty, an elite Carnival service to make women feel like queens on the road. Achsah Basha has become one of the most trusted Carnival Queens in the industry and continues to seek to use her platform to bring Carnival to the world.
She has shared her top tips for Carnival for first-timers or veterans, that can make or break the Trinidad Carnival experience:
1. DO drink water in between alcoholic drinks: to ensure you don’t become dehydrated or drunk and ruin the experience. Remember, Trinidad Carnival is a marathon, not a sprint!
2. DO have backpack etiquette: so that people around you can enjoy their Carnival without being hit by backpacks.
3. DO walk with a rag to sit on: hygiene and comfort are key!
4. DO reapply sunblock: the sun is very real and protecting your skin is extremely important.
5. DO walk with a portable charger, extra cash and ID: safety precautions that can help you get out of any difficult situations.
6. DO ensure you always communicate with your friends about your whereabouts: it will help you stay safe and ensure your friends don’t spend their Carnival worrying about you.
7. DO eat and take a nap at the lunch stop: a marathon, not a sprint!
8. DON’T tell people you are a lone traveller or where you are staying: this could expose you to unnecessary risk.
9. DON’T stray from the band: especially if you are a first-timer or uncertain about your environment.
10. DON’T take off your shoes and put them back on if your feet are hurting: this is the worst move, your feet will hurt double!
11. DON’T play hero and drink without eating breakfast.