By Andrew Clunis
Kimiela “Candy” Isaacs is a JCDC girl.
She began entering the Festival of the Arts competition at age 12. It was no surprise then when she copped the Festival Song title in 2024 with her entry “One Jamaica”.
She is the only totally blind winner of the competition and one of just seven females to have snared the top prize in the competition’s 60 year history.
“I was excited in becoming the sixth female winner and the first visually impaired female to get the best performance award. I consider it a big deal. I have gained a new throng of fans, I gained exposure. I was able to travel to places I’ve never been. I am an example that the Festival Song Competition has been good for Jamaica. It shows that our culture is still alive.”
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Candy had previously entered in 2021 and although her song was popular she wasn’t placed.
She has an an impressive collection for her awards cabinet with 30 gold medals, 30 trophies and five silver medals.
Her excellence even as a schoolgirl at Wolmer’s High School for Girls won her a four-year scholarship to the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts, from which she graduated with a degree in Jazz and Popular Music Studies. She is also the first visually impaired person to have achieved such a feat.
Her disability has not deterred her in the least bit and she remains as ambitious and hungry as the any other person. But sometimes she gets really annoyed when others try to use her lack of sight as a weapon against her.
“I remember when I entered the festival song competition in 2021 I was asked if I should win what would I do for the country as a blind person. That kind of thinking get me annoyed because people tend to underestimate my abilities to push for what I want. The fact that I am blind doesn’t have anything to do with my mouth or my ears or my hands. When these challenges come I will do everything in my power to prove people wrong.”
At 42 years old and having been born blind Candy says she is comfortable in her skin. “At this stage I can’t take on the challenge to learn what ugly looks, what pretty looks like or what colours are like. I couln’t be bothered to learn to read and write again. I marvel sometimes at how disturbed people get when the power goes out and they can’t see. It’s those times I say I am happy I am blind. “
Despite her inability to see she makes the best of life end enjoys doing things that most people do.
“I am very adventurous. I love to travel; to go on the country road. I love rivers and anything that is very daring. I explore with technology as much as I can. I find apps that are accessible and I work with AI tools/ I am pretty much into everything so I don’t have time to be bored.
Candy describes herself as an inspirational singer with a love for jazz and gospel.
She has one of the most powerful voices to have graced the festival and popular music stages. Since winning the festival song competition she has released three singles and is hoping for many more to come.
She is on the hunt for a producer as the man she used to work with, also blind Sydney Thorpe of Fab Five fame died in 2025.
“I have not met the producer with whom I am comfortable yet. People tend to use my disability to guide their decisions but I am patient and the right one will come along. I want to tour the world for people to hear my voice. I want to be remembered as Candy Isaacs with the powerful voice, the minister, the worshipper.
“I have to work twice as hard as somebody who is sighted but I am a go-getter and rather than sitting down and being sorry for myself I prove to people that anything that you can do I can do better. I want my voice to be heard. I know I have to work twice as hard but I see it as opportunity rather than an obstacle. Success doesn’t come easy one has to work very hard. Candy Isaacs can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube @kimielacandyisaacs.