When Hilary 'Tilly' Thomas spoke about 'living in exile' on The Caribbean Immigrant podcast this week, every Caribbean person who heard it felt their heart squeeze - because we know exactly what he means.

That feeling when your heart drops every time you see flashing lights behind any car you're in. When you have to calculate every move, every trip to the shop, every doctor's visit like you're playing chess. This is the weight many of Caribbean people carry in silence – the shadow life of being undocumented in America.

The Caribbean has produced one of the most successful entrepreneurs on the planet, yet governments hesitate to capitalize on Rihanna's phenomenal business success. The Barbadian superstar has transformed from a music icon into a global business mogul, with her Fenty empire valued at billions of dollars – yet the Caribbean region is not actively participating in this success story.

When Forbes announced its latest billionaire list, two names made Caribbean people everywhere stand a little taller: Michael Lee-Chin and Rihanna. From different islands, different industries, and different generations, these two pioneers have carved distinct paths to the same rare achievement - becoming Caribbean-born billionaires.

The Paths to Power 🚀

When RHOM's Guerdy Abraira openly discussed her "love-hate relationship" with Haiti on episode 11, she voiced something many Caribbean immigrants feel but rarely express publicly. For Caribbean viewers, her candid admission cracked open a conversation we often have behind closed doors. ONLY!

Episode 11 of the Real Housewives of Miami showed us something deeper than typical reality TV drama. When Haitian-born cast member Kiki Barth broke down discussing threats from family members over U.S. immigration limitations, it exposed a raw reality many Caribbean immigrants know too well.

When news broke about Peter Thomas's legal troubles- an eighteen-month prison sentence for alleged employment tax violations - mainstream media defaulted to tired stereotypes: just another Black man headed to prison. But for Caribbean viewers, particularly those who watched his journey on The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA), this story cuts deeper.

Yow - if you want to see Caribbean people roll their eyes straight back to the islands, just watch how Americans lost their minds when Jamaican entrepreneur Keyshia Ka'oir talked about taking care of her husband, Gucci Mane.

Lord have mercy - from The Breakfast Club straight down to the last entertainment blog, everybody and their mama had something to say when Keyshia told Carlos King how she used to bathe Gucci, still cooking for him, and all de man have to do is shower.  

Picture this - I had what many would consider "the life" back home in Dominica. My name was on every (well, many) exclusive guest list, my social calendar was full, and by Caribbean standards, I was "reaching." I wasn't just anybody - I was the former beauty queen turned media personality who then launched the island's first exclusive, full-service boutique PR firm. Everyone knew my name, and more importantly to ME, my professional reputation. That reputation for getting things done didn't just speak for itself - it brought in referrals and contracts.

Then came what seemed like the cherry on top -

Hold up, wait a minute. Or as we say in the Caribbean, puuuuuuullll uuuuup. Let's talk about the selective outrage that played out on Real Housewives of Miami, episode 7, because something's not adding up. And I may need to calm down because the fact that we are still here in 2025 is infuriating. Still here- where the treatment of a White woman and the treatment of a Black woman is given such different energy. WTF!?

When I heard the Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA) Season 16 reunion would be themed around Grenada, I knew it marked more than just another tropical backdrop – it represented a powerful moment of Caribbean visibility in mainstream media.

 When Grenada's bachelor Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell stepped into the Atlanta housewives' soirée in episode 15, he brought the whole Caribbean heat with him – and had every Caribbean national from Brooklyn to Miami glued to their screens. Between the soca rhythms that had even the most reserved guests wining, and the unmistakable nutmeg-spiced dishes that gave the Atlanta ladies a slice of Spice Isle heaven, this wasn't your typical political appearance – this was pure Grenadian magic.

In a world where reality TV stars carefully curate their vulnerability, Guerdy just kicked down the door of authenticity and walked right in – designer heels, breast cancer journey, and all. With a badass bald head too. And honestly? We're here for every unfiltered moment of it.

When this Haitian powerhouse opened up about her post-cancer reality on RHOM, it wasn't the usual reality TV sob story manufactured for ratings. No, baby.

Listen, while everyone's busy focusing on the latest Miami drama, can we talk about how Kiki Barth is serving Caribbean realness in Louboutins and y'all aren't paying enough attention? This Haitian six-foot stunner isn't just giving us looks – she's giving us layers, and Bravo viewers are sleeping harder than they do after their mama's Sunday soup.

Let's start with the obvious:

Listen nah, if you haven't been watching Real Housewives of Miami lately, this season seven, you're missing what we like to call a whole Caribbean carnival – except instead of feathers and beads, we're serving designer lewks and premium shade. Serving Palm Tree Shade: Where the shade is as wide as our leaves and twice as intentional. 🌴

Let's talk about how the Real Housewives of Miami are clutching their Hermès pearls over a Caribbean woman’s "excessive" energy. The fact that Kiki had to deliver the "too much" message to Guerdy can only be described as a tragic Haitian-on-Haitian crime. The nerve of making one Haitian woman tell another Haitian woman she's too extra? That's like asking Jamaicans to whisper at a dance hall or telling Trinis not to wine at carnival. Make it make sense! Apparently, being passionate, expressive, and unapologetically yourself is "too much" for Miami's delicate sensibilities.

Oh, honey, you haven't lived until you've watched Atlanta housewives discover Jab Jab. The Real Housewives of Atlanta traded their Louboutins for motor oil in Grenada, and let's just say Carlos King’s 0/10-episode rating proves he might need a Caribbean cultural awakening.