Charting new courses

Garfene Grandison, Gleaner Writer

With poise, grace, beauty and with loads of laughter, Candice Buchanan sauntered into the editorial department of The Gleaner offices this week.

In comparison to two years ago, this was a completely new woman.

The Candice of the past was devastated by the release of topless pictures taken four years prior to their release. The then TV host and producer lost her job, her reputation and her self-confidence.

With a sombre expression, Buchanan revisited how she felt at the time of the incident.

"When the pictures first came out, I was convinced that it wasn't me because I was always so careful growing up when it came to my personal life. I was really rail-roaded by the entire situation. I didn't see it (the pictures) coming at all. One thing I do blame myself for is for not being a better judge of character," she confessed.

In spite of all that transpired after the release of the photos, Buchanan secretly knew she would overcome.

However, the situation got the better of her and she admitted that she was engulfed in self-pity. "It's okay to wallow in self-pity," she said, "but you have to pick yourself back up and brush off. At the end of the day, it's not how you fall but rather, how you get up. What I came to understand is that people are always going to say things, regardless of whatever that's happening, so all I could do was start over, and that's what I encourage all to do."

According to Buchanan, after the pictures became public knowledge, only Heineken [Holland] remained in her corner.

Buchanan also hosted and produced the Heart Hill Usain Bolt Homecoming celebrations, just weeks after the release of the pictures.

"News and entertainment stations from all over the world were in attendance to cover the event," she boasted.

Betrayed

But there was more doom and gloom than moments of joy after she was relieved of her duties at CVM TV.

"I felt betrayed because I had worked so hard to become part of the CVM family. To be honest, it wasn't event the fact that they fired me, but it was the way in which it was handled," Buchanan admitted.

Her family was hit hard by the situation as well but according to Buchanan, they also protected her.

"My family would hear and read things but none of it would reach me because they did their best to keep away all the negative energy. My mom especially, who was and continues to be my best friend," she said.

Does Buchanan now have a new love? The host/producer girlishly giggled when questioned about the new man in her life.

"Yes, I am involved but I don't really talk about my personal life during interviews, but I will say that he has really been there for me and I truly love him for that."

Since the incident, Buchanan has encountered countless job rejections but she remains headstrong about regaining control of her life. Apart from the usual voice-overs and commercials that she has continued to do for Creative Sound Studios, she has also recorded a single with Stephen 'Di Genius' McGregor. "Yes, I voiced a single entitled Hard To Please, but I'm too nervous to release it to the public," she said.

Acting has also become part of her portfolio. The 26-year-old beauty filmed a successful first season of Me and Mi Kru and has started shooting the second. She has also started working on her make-up line, which will be called 'Candice Cosmetics', which is set to be released by the latest, early next year.

Buchanan's résumé doesn't stop there. She has also added insurance adviser to her portfolio.

"Things were so hard that I decided to take my life in an entirely different direction, so I went corporate and started working at Guardian Life Insurance Company," said Buchanan.

Additionally, Buchanan has made a cameo appearance in Craig and Demarco's chart-topping hit Show It. She balances all of this while still being a host and producer at RE-TV.

The jack-of-all-trades only has one wish, and that is for people to not hold her past mistake against her.

"I would rather persons use my work, decorum and attitude to judge me rather than a pic that was let out by a vindictive individual," she said.