You don’t know her yet…Or maybe you do if you’re watching MTV or are a fashion addict. Her name is Lettely is she’s getting more and more exposure. With an African father and a Guadeloupean mother, how could we miss her?!! Here to know more about her…

Elle s’appelle Lettely, Afro-Caribéenne par excellence (de père africain et de mère guadeloupéenne)…Vous ne la connaissez pas encore ou si vous êtes fan de clips US et de mode, la frimousse de cette adolescente de 16 ans vous est peut être déjà famillière. Née en France, elle vit aux Etats-Unis depuis son plus jeune âge et fait de plus en plus parler d’elle dans le domaine de la mode. Top magnéto…

GwadaYouth : Who is Lettely ?

Lettely : Hello my name is Lettely Marie-Jeanne Wetchye Tolombo Kady Macrew Mwanga. If you are wondering if this is my full name? yes it is. I am African and Guadeloupean. I’m a R&B/soul singer. I’m also a model. Actually you can look out for me on Thomas Mège new music video. It’s airing now on M6 in France. I consider myself to be an example of one of the faces of our youth’s future. I have what it takes to make it big in this industry, and with the great team that I have working behind me, we will make it become a dream come true.

G.Y. : On what projects have you been working so far ?

L. : As far as projects go I have been working with local artists in Miami, Gwada, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. Also I have worked on commercials with MTV and nationwide televisions.

G.Y. : What should we be on the lookout for ?

L. : With me you never know what to expect. That’s how I like things to be. I’m a low key girl but when I appear somewhere everyone knows, because when I hit, I hit hard! I make sure that everyone hears me and the words that I’m singing.

G.Y. : What lessons have you been learning from your modeling experiences so far ?

L. : In the modeling industry I’ve learned that you cannot be shy, if there is something out there that you want you have to go out and get it. And if you are patient enough good things will come to you.

G.Y. : How do you balance your career and your regular teenager’s life ?

L. : My life is always balanced. I still have to clean my room and do my homework and go to school. I balance things out by taking control of my schedule. I make sure that I take care of my education before anything because that is very important to me. After this I have to stay in shape for modeling so I go to the gym and work out my body. When I get home I take a shower and I’m ready to go to the studio. Singing is my life.

G.Y. : What motivated you to make this interview ?

L. : I got motivated to do this interview because I wanted to know what the people in Gwada thought about me, and if the youth had any questions to ask me.

G.Y. : being that you live in the US, how can you identify with your Guadeloupean roots and the caribbean youth ?

L. : Well since my mother is from Gwada, there is a lot of heritage in my house. The great education that I have now I can thank only one person and that is my manager/mother, Patricia Louise Macrew. She has shown me everything that I need to know in life from her point of view.

G.Y. : What model do you look up to ?

L. : I really love Naomi Campbell.

G.Y. : How do you deal with the cliché: models are cute but dumb ?

L. : To be honest I used to say the same thing. But then I learned that models can combine there beauty with talent and that’s what I’m doing. I have combined it with my education and singing. I hear that a lot, but it really doesn’t bother me because I know that I’m a smart young lady. I will go to college in California, to study law. I stay focused in everything I do.

G.Y. : When did you start modeling and what pushed you to do it ?

L. : What pushed me to model were the comments that people were always telling me. “You are so beautiful” “You have the body to be a model, why don’t you try it ?” Plus my mother had always dreamed of me being a model. So after hearing all of that, I gave it a try and I made it.

G.Y. : Is modeling fun or is it a tough job to you ?

L. : Modeling is fun and it’s a tough job. I mean can you imagine yourself in two inch heels for seventeen hours for a music video? Or can you imagine having to watch what you eat all the time and exercising all the time, and having to make time for your family and friends and your schoolwork? I’m young so I love what I do and I have the energy to stay up until 4 in the morning and then having to wake up at 5:30 to go to school. I love my life !!!

G.Y. : What do you enjoy doing beside modeling ?

L. : I like to hang out with my friends, I love going out dancing, and I love to write poetry.

G.Y. : Being that you’ve been living in the US almost all your life, how do you define yourself, culturally ?

L. : I can define myself as Guadaloupean, African, American.

G.Y. : How many languages do you speak ?

L. : I speak 3 languages, Kréyòl, French, and English

G.Y. : In your dream world, where would you spend your life and why ?

L. : In my dream life I can see myself spending my life in California. I love California because this is where I have been wanting to live since I was a little girl. I think that is where I belong.

G.Y. : According to you, what are the best assets of the Caribbean culture ?

L. : I love the gwoka, the boudin, and of course the people.

G.Y. : The worst ?

L. : I love Gwada there is nothing that I don’t like about my culture.

G.Y. : How do you see your modeling career evolving, will you need to move in order to work more ?

L. : My modeling career is developing very deligently so far. As far as moving goes, Where I live (Miami) everything is happening. But I finish high school in 1 year and then, I am moving to California.

G.Y. : When was the last time you went to the Caribbean, and what souvenir do you keep from this trip ?

L. : The last time that I went to Gwada it was two years ago and I always keep the beautiful sounds of gwoka in my head. Actually I have like ten gwoka cds at my house. My favorite group is Akiyo. Last time I went to Gwada I met my favorite rapper Fuckly. He is the man.

G.Y. : A message in kréyol for all those who will read this interview ?

L. : Ka ki fèt’ moun an mwen. Peace and love.

Questions : Le Forum gwadayouth. Merci à Ladyflow, Zouk Lady, Dada-7, Gwada is love et tous les autres pour leurs questions (Propos recueillis le 20 juin 2003)