Shelby Reflects on Fenty Recognition: 'I’m on My Way to Achieving My Dream'

Jamaican beauty influencer Shelby discusses her recognition by Rihanna's Fenty brand ahead of its launch in Jamaica: "I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity not only for myself but for my country."

Jamaican beauty influencer and content creator, Shelby

As Jamaica prepares for the official launch of Rihanna's Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin, excitement is already building. The products will debut on Thursday, April 10, at Fontana Pharmacy in Kingston, followed by a second event on Saturday in Montego Bay. This expansion follows the Bajan billionaire’s regional rollout last November, with launches in places like her hometown, Bridgetown in Barbados, where she promised to bring the brand to more Caribbean countries, including Jamaica.

Renowned content creator and beauty influencer Shelby Bradshaw, socially known as @andimshelby, was among the first to receive a Fenty PR package ahead of the highly anticipated launch.

Excited by the recognition, Shelby shared with Kaboom Magazine, "It means I’m on my way to achieving my goal of being internationally recognized. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a child and to see it come to fruition is amazing."

She initially shared the moment of receiving the Fenty Beauty package with her growing fanbase across social media platforms. Reflecting on the overwhelming support, Shelby elaborated, "They reacted a lot better than I expected! I mean obviously it was a big deal to me, but I didn’t think it would’ve been a big deal to them. To see so many people, even people that didn’t know me before this, rooting that hard for me was really heartwarming."

Shelby, who boasts over 40,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel AndimShelby, praised Fenty for recognizing her as a leading influencer. "Though we have such a big impact globally, we’re often overlooked by first world countries — that’s no secret," she said. "I’m happy that Fenty promotes inclusivity, which in turn lets us know that we’re being seen and heard. We’re just as important as any other country, no matter the size, and I think we should be offered the same opportunities. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity not only for myself but for my country. I think this is just the beginning."

The young Jamaican influencer sees this kind of international recognition as a step toward reshaping how Jamaican talent is viewed worldwide. "There are so many talented people in Jamaica but we’re not being seen. Either due to lack of support so we don’t get pushed, or lack of resources so sometimes there are restrictions on how we could bring our ideas to life," she reasoned. "I feel like we always have to work 10 times harder to be recognized, but my advice is to keep at it, because clearly the proof is in the pudding that we’re making progress."

"It means I’m on my way to achieving my goal of being internationally recognized. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a child and to see it come to fruition is amazing"

Reflecting on her journey, Shelby shared honestly that the recognition has only driven her to dream even bigger. "It just gave me the motivation to keep going. I’ve been doing content creation for so long and sometimes I felt so demotivated because I worked so hard and sometimes I wasn’t getting the results I expected. This just confirmed that when it’s your time to shine, you will shine. Everybody’s journey is different. I’m happy that I never stopped creating, despite how I felt sometimes. At the end of the day, it’s something I love — and to be recognized for doing something I love is such a top-tier feeling."

“Post the content. Review products you already have. Buy new ones and make some content. The only way you’ll be seen is if you start putting yourself out there and taking up space. Don’t be afraid to reach out to brands either. you never know where it’ll take you,” she concluded, offering advice to fellow content creators and aspiring influencers.