Season 20 of ‘Digicel Rising Stars’ ends tonight with what is expected to be a stellar show packed to the brim with guest performances, prizes and surprises following a tough campaign trail. In a conversation with The Sunday Gleaner , this season’s finalists – Akeen Fennell and Renecia Bernard – explained that soliciting votes was sometimes difficult. “Dem a seh mi should a drop out already,” said 17-year-old Bernard when asked about the feedback from the public.
But she’s determined not to let it get to her. “When dem a talk mi nuh really stay fi hear wah dem have fi seh, enuh. Cause mi nah entertain di negativity.
So, mi jus walk weh,” she continued. Fennell has had similar difficulties while on the campaign trail, explaining the experience has been an “eye-opener” for him. “I tend to be more of a reserved person; I stick to myself and try not to bother people, and this show has really helped me to change and be more outspoken.
But, if I had known about the whole campaigning side, I would have stayed in my shell,” Fennell said. “It was dreadful! I remember I would get all 15 nos before getting the first $50. It was dreadful.
..and that can break a person.
Break their pride, their self-worth, everything. So, I had to leave all of that in the car before starting,” he continued. Though some contestants are eliminated sooner than some supporters would like, the show’s producer, Sharon Schroeter, told The Sunday Gleaner that it is the fans who ar.