38 years of beauty and love goes viral for Caribbean couple
Published:Sunday | December 11, 2022 | 8:54 AMDebra Edwards - Assistant Online and Lifestyle Editor
They went viral for rating their gorgeous selves of past on the social media app TikTok, and subsequently being featured on the popular online platform The Shaderoom. While watching the hilarious trip down aesthetic memory lane, with the words “Lord mi dear fabulous” and “Idrisssss Elbbbbbba” it became apparent that the beautiful couple, Sharon (née Street) and Pierre Fils-Aime were from the Caribbean.
Seated with their daughter and videographer Mikala at their home in South Florida, the Fils-Aime’s are asked how they met. Pint-sized firecracker Sharon looks over at her husband and says, “You just keep quiet and let me talk.” Pierre who is from Haiti responds with a chuckle and says, “Enjoy yourself,” as he looks to the sky.
Sharon explains that 38 years ago a mutual friend of theirs introduced them at a nightclub in Miami. Sharon is only 4’11”, but says at first she thought Pierre was lacking in the height department. However, there was no denying what a handsome man he was.
She says he asked her to marry him almost instantly but she declined on numerous occasions until she finally accepted almost a year later. “I broke her down,” says Pierre. Sharon adds, “He was amazing, in terms of looks and everything. Just an amazing guy and he just took me off my feet.”
Asked if he sees the story of how they met in the same way Sharon does, Pierre doesn’t hesitate and nods in agreement saying, “Exactly the same way.” Smart guy! Then he elaborates, “She definitely was a gorgeous young lady and she still is.” His first thoughts when he saw her? “Dynamite and foxy. Good looking girl. Got to get to know her.”
Mikala, an elementary schoolteacher had noted that all her friends love her parents and decided to share them with the world on social media. Sometimes having them rate celebrities, which is a TikTok trend. Since they have so many beautiful pictures of themselves from when they were younger, she recently decided to have them rate each other, and as it turned out people were fans.
A couple can’t be married to each other for 37 years and not have trials, right? “Marriage is hard. We’ve had our challenges. I won’t lie about that, but all in all it’s been good, because one of the things that he and I have said is that communication is important for us and if we have had arguments we have never gone to bed angry with each other. And that was something that we decided we were not going to do,” says Sharon who adds they will sit up all night to sort things through if needs be.
The Fils-Aimes’ sense of humour is contagious. “We always try to keep the laughter going in our family,” says Mikala.
Both Sharon and Pierre are now retirees and when not in the US, they reside right here in Jamaica. Portland to be exact, at their newly constructed abode called Front Page Villa, a fully staffed contemporary modern location, with crisp white exterior and interior décor and an expansive view of the Caribbean Sea.
Breaking ground on the location just before the pandemic hit, while COVID-19 was in full force, they pressed on with construction. “It was continue all the way,” says Pierre. And while there were challenges such as the rain, getting supplies and finding the right workers, he adds, “We were determined to see it through and get it done.”
Last fall they officially welcomed guests to the villa and couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to be in Jamaica for half the year.
Many who migrate aren’t willing to return to the island but Sharon says, “There is nowhere like there (Jamaica) though. Our people are just beautiful people.”
Indicating the reach of the Internet, they say they even get noticed in Portland from TikTok. “I still don’t think they understand how big The Shaderoom was and the magnitude of the virality,”says Mikala.
What makes their story even sweeter is that they have gone viral for loving each other throughout the years.
Sharon would like to encourage more Jamaicans to come home and admits that the negatives being spread about Jamaica bother her.
They both say they feel very comfortable in Jamaica and unafraid. “It is a welcoming country,” says Pierre pointing out that the whole community in Long Bay has embraced them. Sharon follows up by saying “There’s hardly a time when people don’t bring green bananas or something.”
Asked how they would like to evolve on social media and in life, Mikala says, “Continuing to make people laugh and feel good.” Sharon chimes in, “I’m all about that.” Mikala continues, “I like that we have been able to have a platform for people to just come and laugh and feel a part of the family.”