Miss Kitty brings Jamaica abroad

Twins new Nationwide gig with overseas station

Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

Khadine 'Miss Kitty' Hylton might be a busy woman with gigs on local and overseas radio, but she is also finding time for worthy causes and other ventures.

In recent times, the 'Fluffy Diva' parted ways with RJR after working there for almost five years and is now gearing up for the July 1 start of her radio show on Nationwide 90 FM.

The show, 'Miss Kitty Live', will air from 2 to 5 p.m. on both Nationwide and Link Up Radio, a New York-based radio station.

"It is a rebirth because I was at Nationwide before. It is a new show because it will be a simulcast," she said, noting that the entire show will be aired simultaneously on Link Up Radio, and not just snippets of the show.

She added that, after resigning from RJR, she received a number of offers, but "I assessed the best one that would accommodate the partnership with Link Up Radio as well. Nationwide, being the revolution in radio that it is, had the best partnership deal that we could forge."

Excited about the new show, Hylton said, "it is a twinning of brands, brand Jamaica also being promoted in New York. It is that link between the Diaspora. It is not anything being delayed or packaged, you are getting it in real time."

different show

Having joined Link Up Radio in March, she explained that her show on the station was a bit different from the one she had on RJR.

"The demographic is wider and more liberal, so you could touch a wider range of topics," she said, adding that it was an opportunity to introduce more persons to the Jamaican culture.

When the simulcast begins in July, she said, she will merely be "bringing Jamaica to there. It is not even a balancing act, but more of an inclusive act. Just keeping them in the loop".

She said the show will have music, edutainment, outside broadcast and a new feature called School Life.

For this new segment, she said she will be going to different high schools, speaking with the students during the morning session and then broadcasting the show from there. She said she is also planning to partner with the Digicel Foundation, as she wants to assist students with special needs.

The show will also have daily themes such as Mushy Mondays, Island Tuesdays, Wire Wednesdays, Peppa Seed Thursdays and Full A Vibes Fridays.

Although she is a popular media personality, Miss Kitty said social media will be an integral part of promoting the show and its eventual success. She said she will also need to package a good show so that people will want to listen.

grateful to connect

Quite in demand, Miss Kitty said she is grateful for being on local radio again and being able to connect with her fans, many of whom have missed her.

"God has been the person that has really blessed me, really. Since this new path, I have just been so overwhelmed by the responses that I have gotten. I think it had a lot to do with my personality. I resonate with people from all walks of life, I am just a real girl. The fluff is real, I am true to myself. At the end of the day, authenticity will always resonate with people," she told The Sunday Gleaner.

In demand and busy, Miss Kitty says she has no idea how she is able to manage her time.

"I have a very good team around me. They make it all happen. I'm a workaholic. I am so grateful to be doing what I love. You just get up and do what you have to do. It does get exhausting and tiring, but you just pray and go through. Work stress is better than bruck stress," she said, laughing.

The Digicel ambassador is also busy with many other ventures such as a new TV show she plans to start airing by next year. She was very excited about new merchandise that will hit the market soon, but was tight-lipped about what it is. There is also her website, which should be up and running this summer.

But high on her list of priorities is her foundation, which aims at empowering women and, by extension, men.

With such a busy schedule, Miss Kitty says, "my personal life is sleeping. My life is pretty work-oriented".

It might not be on the cards now, but she says she plans to have children.

"Children in the future, yes," she said. "I am striving for a family. I want to be a wife. Family is very important for me. I want that family connection."

But for now, "I just want to get back on radio. I am very excited. Thank my mom and my team for all the strength that they have given. I am just happy, feeling very fulfilled," she told The Sunday Gleaner.