Vlair Shapewear sponsors Skye Gibson Moo Young’s Miss Jamaica World journey

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Jamaican-born entrepreneur and multi-platinum recording artiste Nailah Thorbourne backs Miss Jamaica World finalist Skye Gibson Moo Young in a partnership that connects fashion, body positivity and a shared commitment to empowering women. As Skye Gibson Moo Young continues her journey as a finalist in the Miss Jamaica World competition, her sponsorship by Vlair Shapewear (Vlair.store) represents more than support for the pageant experience. It brings together two women whose individual journeys reflect the importance of confidence, self-expression and pursuing ambitions beyond familiar boundaries. Founded by Jamaican-born, multi-platinum recording artiste, songwriter and entrepreneur, Thorbourne, known professionally as Nyla and as one-half of the internationally recognised music duo Brick & Lace, Vlair Shapewear is built around the belief that women should be able to embrace their individuality and wear the styles they love without compromising their confidence. Through its sponsorship of Skye’s Miss Jamaica World sash, the brand is extending that philosophy beyond fashion and into a broader conversation about body positivity, self-belief and female empowerment. For Thorbourne, the decision to support Skye was a natural fit. “Skye definitely embodies many of the qualities a Miss Jamaica World contestant should have, so when I was approached to sponsor her I was happy to oblige,” Thorbourne shared. Describing Skye as confident, bold and self-assured, she recognised qualities that reflect the woman Vlair seeks to represent. “Skye is beautiful, confident, bold, and self-assured; qualities the ‘Vlair’ woman also embodies.” The sponsorship also offers Thorbourne an opportunity to give back to Jamaica, a country that has played a significant role in shaping her identity and career. Having grown up in Jamaica before achieving international success in music, she views the partnership as a meaningful way to maintain her connection to home while supporting a young woman pursuing an ambitious dream. “Vlair being the main sponsors for Skye is a way for me to support her endeavor and also support an event I know many Jamaicans hold dear,” she explained. She added, “As a born Jamaican living abroad I know the importance of wanting to stay connected to your country and your roots and supporting Skye is one of the ways I can do that.” For Thorbourne, the decision reflects a desire to contribute to something greater than herself while supporting a competition that generations of Jamaicans have watched and admired. “Jamaica has given me so much, in particular the strong Jamaican women I grew up seeing and admiring. I know what it means to be a young Jamaican girl with big massive dreams, so it was only fitting for me to give back this way to another young Jamaican girl with a massive dream of winning the Miss Jamaica World title,” she said. From International Music Success to Entrepreneurship, Thorbourne’s decision to support Skye is also connected to her own journey of growth, reinvention and pursuing opportunities beyond her established career. Although she is widely recognised for her achievements as a platinum recording artiste and songwriter, the creation of Vlair Shapewear represents another chapter in her entrepreneurial journey. The brand emerged from a personal challenge that highlighted a gap in the market for shapewear designed to accommodate contemporary fashion. “Vlair was born out of a problem I faced when trying to find shapewear that worked with some of my cut-out and asymmetrical dresses,” Thorbourne explained. Following the birth of her second child, daughter Bellamy, she found herself working towards her pre-pregnancy weight while struggling to find suitable undergarments for the styles she wanted to wear. Rather than compromise her wardrobe choices, she developed a solution that would allow women to wear cut-out designs with greater ease. “As mothers, we know how hard it is to lose that extra tummy weight, particularly that lower abdomen ‘fupa,’ as they call it. Creating the first-ever Cut-Out shapewear was the solution I developed for not having the right undergarment to go under those dress styles,” she said. What began as a personal need became the foundation for a brand designed around the modern woman and the evolving relationship between fashion, shapewear and confidence. For Thorbourne, entrepreneurship was a natural progression from a career that had already taught her the value of perseverance and long-term vision. “I have always been a self-starter and go-getter, so entrepreneurship felt like the natural next step and path I was supposed to take. I always envisioned having a business even while I was touring and doing music,” she shared. “I think being in music taught me perseverance and not being afraid of seeing the long game, something you definitely need when building a business.” Her transition into entrepreneurship reflects a willingness to continue growing, explore new possibilities and challenge herself beyond familiar territory. It is a perspective that also resonates with Skye’s decision to step into pageantry for the first time. “Vlair's philosophy is as fashion evolves so should your shapewear,” Thorbourne explained. “It is important for our company to keep up with the ever-evolving styles in fashion. Knowing you have the right undergarments for the outfits you want to wear is a major source of confidence for many women; designing those kinds of shapewear products is paramount to what makes Vlair unique and cutting edge.” Among the brand’s signature offerings are the signature cut-out thong bodysuit and one shoulder eclipse bodysuit, two hero products that reflect its focus on accommodating distinctive fashion styles. Customers also favour its high-waisted slimming shorts and shapewear tummycontrol panties. The signature cut-out thong bodysuit was developed in response to the very challenge that inspired Vlair, providing an option for outfits featuring cut-out details. The one shoulder eclipse bodysuit caters to asymmetrical styles, while the high-waisted slimming shorts and tummy-control panties offer additional choices for women seeking shapewear to complement their wardrobes. For Thorbourne, these products are part of a wider vision that recognises the importance of helping women feel comfortable and confident in the clothes they choose. “Vlair is primarily about seeing and understanding the modern woman. Vlair is about making the woman feel sexy from beneath to the surface and your shapewear should never just be an afterthought,” she said. This philosophy distinguishes Vlair Shapewear as a brand that considers both the practical function of its products and the role they can play in supporting personal expression. Body positivity and the confidence to wear the dress beyond its products, Vlair Shapewear promotes a message of body positivity, individuality and self-assurance. The brand encourages women to embrace the styles they love without feeling restricted by conventional expectations about body shape, size or appearance. For Thorbourne, confidence is not about conforming to a particular ideal. It is about feeling comfortable in who you are and expressing that identity in a way that feels authentic. “The Vlair woman is not afraid to ‘wear the dress.’ She is confident in who she is and what she represents and a part of that is how she expresses herself through her style,” she explained. That message extends beyond clothing. While the brand's products are designed to support different fashion choices, its wider philosophy encourages women to embrace their individuality rather than allow comparisons or outside expectations to determine how they see themselves. In an era when social media can intensify scrutiny of women's bodies and appearances, this emphasis on confidence and body positivity offers a reminder that personal style should be an expression of identity, not a source of limitation. It is also where Vlair’s sponsorship of Skye becomes particularly meaningful. Although pageantry is often associated with glamour, presentation and physical appearance, Skye hopes her participation in Miss Jamaica World will encourage audiences to look beyond the crown and recognise the person, purpose and values behind it. Through Miss Jamaica World For Skye, the Miss Jamaica World competition has become an experience of self-discovery, growth and renewed purpose. Although she had never participated in pageantry before, the opportunity presented a chance to challenge herself, reconnect with her Jamaican roots and explore how she could make a meaningful contribution to her community. The competition’s location in Kingston was also a significant draw, as it gave her the opportunity to spend time with her grandmother, whom she describes as a lifelong inspiration. “I was very inspired by the Miss Jamaica World competition, really because it seems like such an exciting journey to go on. Win or lose, I've honestly learned so much about myself,” Skye shared. She explained that the experience has helped her discover issues she is passionate about addressing within Jamaican society while developing a deeper appreciation for the country’s culture and people. For Skye, the opportunity also carries a responsibility to inspire others. “This opportunity, to me, means to be an example for hundreds of young women across the nation, and possibly even within the diaspora. Jamaicans have roots everywhere in the world. I wish to be an inspiration for generations to come, and I just hope to make a lasting impression and raise the confidence of women worldwide,” she said. Throughout the competition, Skye has participated in workshops that have encouraged her to explore issues such as femicide and breast cancer awareness. These experiences have helped her consider how she can use her platform to raise awareness, connect communities with resources and support meaningful action. However, one of the most significant aspects of her journey has been the opportunity to develop her beauty with a purpose initiative, Becoming Her. Skye’s Becoming Her initiative is centred on helping young Jamaican girls develop the confidence to express themselves, use their voices and recognise that they do not have to diminish themselves to meet the expectations of others. She believes that many young women are taught to remain silent in uncomfortable situations, make themselves smaller or soften their opinions to avoid challenging others. Through her initiative, she hopes to create opportunities for girls to develop the confidence to speak up, embrace their identities and pursue their ambitions. Drawing from her own experiences with the arts, Skye plans to engage primary school students through confidence-building workshops incorporating music, visual arts and theatre. She also hopes to introduce mentorship opportunities and create a supportive environment where young women can explore their creativity while developing essential life skills. For Skye, the arts have provided an avenue for self-expression and belonging. She recalls that stepping onto a stage for the first time allowed her to experience a sense of freedom and discover her voice. Through Becoming Her, she hopes to create similar opportunities for other girls, helping them understand that their voices matter and their potential extends beyond the limitations others may place on them. The initiative also creates a natural connection with Vlair Shapewear, whose philosophy centres on encouraging women to embrace their individuality and express themselves with confidence. Skye said she was shocked and excited when she learned that Thorbourne would be sponsoring her sash. Having researched Thorbourne’s career and entrepreneurial journey, she recognised the significance of receiving support from a woman whose accomplishments reflect the ambition and self-belief she hopes to encourage in others. “When I found out she was my sponsor, again, she just aligned so perfectly with the vision I want to show and to help implement in the world,” Skye explained. She sees a strong connection between Vlair’s emphasis on confidence and her own commitment to helping young women feel secure in themselves, particularly in a world where social media can fuel body comparisons and self-doubt. For Skye, the sponsorship is therefore an opportunity to extend the message of confidence beyond the pageant stage. She hopes to build a relationship with Thorbourne that could also support the development of Becoming Her, particularly through mentorship and greater engagement with the creative industries. While the Miss Jamaica World sash represents an important part of Skye’s pageant journey, both women recognise that its significance extends beyond the physical symbol of sponsorship. For Thorbourne, the partnership reflects her desire to remain connected to Jamaica and contribute to opportunities for young women with ambitious dreams. For Skye, it represents encouragement from a woman whose journey demonstrates the possibilities that can emerge from perseverance, self-belief and a willingness to explore new paths. Their shared message is particularly relevant in an environment where social media, beauty standards and comparisons can influence how young women perceive themselves. Skye hopes that audiences will look beyond the glamour, makeup and pageantry to see the person behind the crown: a young woman who has experienced self-doubt but is learning to embrace her individuality and pursue the causes that matter to her. “I hope they can see just a real woman, a girl that was once wondering if she was even enough, pretty enough, fit enough, confident enough,” she said. “I want them to see a person who is ready to give their all for the causes I believe in and to represent our beautiful country of Jamaica with a purpose and with elegance.” She also hopes her participation will encourage other young women to understand that resilience does not mean never experiencing difficulty. Instead, it means learning from challenges, finding the courage to speak up and continuing to move forward. “I hope I can inspire young women to know that it’s okay to take up space and to be themselves despite what others may think or say,” Skye added. This is where the values of Vlair Shapewear and Becoming Her meet. Both encourage women to move beyond restrictive expectations, embrace who they are and express themselves without fear of judgement. For Vlair, that expression may begin with the freedom to wear a dress that once seemed difficult to style. For Skye, it may begin with a young girl finding her voice through music, art or theatre. Ultimately, both messages point to the same principle: confidence is not about fitting into someone else’s definition of who a woman should be, but about becoming comfortable with who she is. As Skye continues her Miss Jamaica World journey, the Vlair Shapewear sponsorship stands as a partnership grounded in more than pageantry or fashion. It is a shared commitment to encouraging Jamaican women and girls to pursue their dreams, celebrate their individuality and recognise the value of their voices. For Thorbourne, it is another opportunity to give back to the country that helped shape her. For Skye, it is support for a journey that she hopes will inspire others long after the competition ends. And for the young women watching, the message from both is clear: be confident in who you are, use your voice and never be afraid to take up space