The Best Looks From Barbados’s First Crop Over in Two Years

Anyone remember where they were back in 2011, when those very first flicks of Rihanna in her Crop Over costume dropped? Even though it took everyone's favorite badgal in all her bedazzled, feathered glory for Crop Over to make major headlines, Barbados's annual summer festival has, in fact, been going on for a really long time. 

Since roughly the 1780s, in fact. At the time, the island was number one in sugar production, thanks to the labor of the enslaved people forced to work on cane plantations. At the end of each successful harvest season (hence the name "Crop Over"), they would deservedly celebrate with music, food, and dance. As centuries passed, the sugar industry in Barbados experienced a downturn, and by the 1940s the festival was no longer a thing. But in 1974, it was brought back all new, improved, and modernized. Since then, Bajans (a colloquial name for the people of Barbados) have been joined by folks all over the world to take part in this centuries-old tradition.

As it was for those who came before us, the festival today is about a feeling of joy and release, even if you can only make it for a long weekend. In 2022, that feeling is all the more poignant after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The mood this time around was one of extreme happiness, with Bajans and foreigners alike indulging in all the things the festival has to offer. We're talking breakfast parties that start in the dark, wee hours of the morning and go past sunrise, with partiers moving their waists and stretching their hands the first light touches the horizon. Fetes (parties, as they are called in parts of the Caribbean) that will have you covered in paint and powder, rolling in foam, and hanging off the side of a truck outfitted with speakers, piled high, blaring the swift rhythms of soca music that spins waistlines and makes flesh tremble. 

The festival itself lasts two blissful months and it all comes to a dazzling, exuberant end on Grand Kadooment day, which is always the first Monday in August. Thousands of Bajans and people from all around the world take to the streets in sparkling, gemstone-studded costumes to "jump," (term used to describe the revelry) dancing down the road to soca music.

To say it's a vibe would be an understatement — it's true euphoria. And it comes at a very special moment, as this year, Barbados holds its very first Crop Over as a republic, making it the latest former British colony to remove the Queen as head of state. Indeed, there is much to celebrate. 

We spoke to a few revelers from the Aura Experience band on Grand Kadooment day about being back on the road post-COVID hiatus, celebrating in the newly-minted republic, and of course, their gorgeous beauty looks for the big day. 

A masquerader contemplates the miles (and miles!) of jumping that will take place ahead of the procession. 

Kira (left) and Shanique (right) came right and ready for the road in their costumes. "It kind of feels like old times again," Shanique tells Allure. The difference, according to the native Bajans, is the parade route. "It's a bit longer," Shanique explains, expressing her excitement to see what vibes would the longer trek would bring.

No costume is complete without a generous helping of sparkle. It's Jayce's first Crop Over, but she came prepared with a stunning rhinestone decal decorating her forehead, complementing her equally-gorgeous crown. Two tiny face jewels matched her lime green shadow.

It's Bryanna's second time at Crop Over and it feels different to her this go-round. "I'm anticipating the long jump and the change of the parade route, but I'm just excited to be back on the road after two years of COVID," the St. Vincentian says.

"It honestly feels good to be back on the road celebrating our culture," Gavin, a native Bajan living in New York City, tells us. For the parade, he's extra patriotic, decked out in the national colors. "I'm just ready to have a good time, wuk up real bad, and just explode on the road." 

He feels even more pride this Kadooment Day with Barbados's status as a new republic. "It feels good to be an independent country, to stand on our own, and to show people that it doesn't matter how small you are, you can be very independent and strong."

Dark lipstick, blue shadow, and a cascade of flowing locs brings Ruby's costume to the next level. "I'm from Minnesota, but I love Barbados. I love the people," she says. Rhinestones of various sizes are sprinkled across her cheeks, almost like sparkling tears — ones of joy. "I'm looking forward to the music, the rum, the bacchanal, all of it!"

Umindi and Elon  aren't new to the Crop Over game, they're true to it. When asked if this was their first time jumping, Johnson says, emphatically, "Absolutely not. I'm from Brooklyn, my parents are from Barbados — I come to Crop Over every year."

A bit of purple shadow smoked-out at the lash line beautifully picks up on the contrasting purple feathers of this masquerader's look. 

Daniel and Charlotte are both from Trinidad and Tobago, which has its own very big carnival that falls just before Lent. This Crop Over is a first for both. "It's my first time on the road in a costume," Daniel explains. 

But, as they tell us, their time in Barbados has been good to them. "I love the people here," Charlotte says. "They are super, super friendly. Everybody I talk to is welcoming." 

Chinonye, who hails from Nigeria, is studying in Barbados and is jumping for the first time. The African roots of the festival and Caribbean culture overall have been an experience for her. 

"Specifically in Barbados, I've noticed that a lot of customs here are from Ghana, which is nice because Nigeria and Ghana were like cousins, brothers, sisters," she says. "It's nice to see that. [Some Caribbean] cultures they don't embrace that [as much], so it's nice to see it in Barbados."

That feeling. Eyes closed, waistline rolling, music running through you — this is the look of euphoria. This reveler decorated her forehead and undereyes with gems, keeping the rest of the makeup relatively neutral.

There's nothing like seeing everyone in their costumes together on the road. The feathers bursting from behind them bounce with every step a masquerader takes. The rhinestones shimmer in time with the music as the carnival band moves through town. But before all that, photos are a must. 

"I don't know if there's any kind of high like the Carnival high," Lily Dash, who is from Barbados, tells us. "It's just pace, pace, pace. It's been high the whole weekend." Her favorite thing about being Bajan? Barbados, of course. "We have the most beautiful place on the whole planet. The best culture, the best music, the best food."

Dwayne, who is also known as Sunny, was born and raised in Barbados, but currently lives in New York City. "What's so special about Crop Over?" he says. "If you look around everyone here — the spectators, the masqueraders, the bands, the food trucks, the people. It's the culture, it's the community. Everything makes Crop Over." 

The poignancy of the tradition is not lost on him, either, as he takes a second to acknowledge the fact that those who came before him set the tradition he enjoys today. "Our ancestors are here right now in the moment with us. We embody them with our costumes, enjoying ourselves — just like they did."

Look closely, and you'll see from afar this reveler's blue liner, blended carefully on her lower lash line along with her contrasting purple shadow up top.

Catalina Robayo is Colombian, but she said it is her second time jumping for Crop Over. "It feels different because it's after the pandemic, but I'm really excited to be here again." For this go-round, she kept the face jewels minimal, with a small arrangement of gems placed just between her eyebrows, punctuated by a hint of purple shadow to match her costume.

Make no mistake: It's hotter than hell on the road for Grand Kadooment, so many masqueraders wind up drinking water for a large part of the route. As for the clear liquid in this reveler's cup? Well, that we don't know for sure.

Britani Tragersa is originally from Boston, but moved to Barbados during the pandemic when the Bajan government offered its Welcome Stamp, allowing foreigners a 12-month visa to live and work in the country. "I think love culture and the people — everyone's super friendly, it's very chill," she explains. "It's not like Boston, which is very fast-paced."

Well-Matched

This masquerader plays on all the colors in her costume with metallic blue and orange shadow, plus a gorgeous red lip. A high pony keeps her looking cool and super glamorous on the road.

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