“I’m overjoyed! Winning the Junior Calypso Monarch was one thing but placing third at the senior level was a whole other deal. Making it to the top was a big deal because I was going up against experienced singers. I’ve looked up to these people for the most part of my life especially Young Bill Rogers,” an ecstatic Omaiah Hall said.
Eighteen going on 19, Omaiah is not the average teen and has attained quite a number of achievements already. The last time she spoke with The Scene, Omaiah was just 14 years old and aspiring to be a lawyer. She was already singing, modelling, dancing and writing her own music. Today, the first year University of Guyana (UG) Communications student has had a change of mind when it comes to careers, opting for radio broadcasting and even as she does this her singing career is blowing up as she continues to also pursue this path.The Junior Calypso Monarch copped her title after an incredible debut performance in the competition with her song “Tell Me How Come”. Composed by a ghost writer who prefers to remain anonymous, it is a daring political piece that tackles the hard questions we are often afraid of asking.
Winning the Junior Calypso Competition automatically got her a spot in the final of the Senior Calypso Competition where her remarkable performance and powerful voice stopped many in their tracks and could not be denied a place in the top three. Weeks later Omaiah’s name is still buzzing on and off social media because of the bold statement she made with “Tell Me How Come”.
Omaiah shared that 
participating in the Junior Calypso Competition was never something she had planned for herself it was someone who heard her singing who pushed her to enter. After this she worked tirelessly day after day preparing for the competition. The singer noted that this competition was no easy walk in the park for her as she was up against some talented singers, all of whom she saw working endlessly, all of whom brought a lot of energy and were bent on sharing their stories through their songs. When she won, it came as a surprise as every one of the contestants could have become the monarch.
It was not just the Calypso Monarch Competition that was a first time for her, she also took on the Soca Monarch Competition with the song “Proud of Who I Am”. Though she did not place, it was certainly thrilling experience for the teen.
No longer much of a dancer, Omaiah still models independently and will be participating in an upcoming Traits Modeling Agency fashion show ‘Strut Le Labyrinthe’. She recently strutted runways for fashion shows put on by the House of Pearson and spoken word poet Renata Burnette.
Modelling aside, Omaiah has also taken up pageantry and will be participating in the Miss Guyana Culture Pageant in June if all goes well as regards the novel coronavirus. Last year, she made her debut in pageantry when she participated in the first ever Miss Guyana Teen Scholarship. She placed in the top five and took home three honours – the People’s Choice Award, Best Evening Gown (designed by Randy Madray) and Best Essay for a piece she penned on the rights of women.
With UG closed owing to Covid-19, Omaiah noted that she has a lot of time on her hands. Already versed in playing steel pan and the piano, Omaiah was recently gifted a violin and she intends to use some of her time learning to play it. In the meantime, she is currently watching “Grey’s Anatomy” on Netflix and patiently waiting to watch the final episode of Brooklyn “99” that is expected to be out this weekend. Once all goes well and everything is back to normal, Omaiah has several new songs she has written that she hopes to release later this year. In addition, the songbird is making plans to put on a concert this year, which will be a tribute to late iconic singer Amy Winehouse. The concert is expected to be an annual one that will be done in honour of various talented singers and will also be co-produced with Omaiah’s bestie, who is also versed in playing steel pan and is the owner of the business, Steel N_Notes.
