Yolande Kumea Gooden-Rhoden is the owner of the organic natural hair care line Kumea’s Hair Perspective. All products in Kumea Hair Perspective are handmade 100% organic ingredients, most of which are sourced in Jamaica. Today Yolande shares her love for Jamaica and her favourite staycation spots.

Describe Jamaica in three words.

Beautiful, Exhilarating, Abundant.

Which area are you from?

Kingston.

What inspired you to launch an organic hair care line?

The inspiration to have my organic hair care line came mainly from mainly two things: my mom being critically sick at the time with cancer which made me start to rethink the things I consumed and put on my skin and hair; and around that same time I was experiencing severe hair loss and damage from having a relaxer for many years.

Describe the Kumea’s Hair Perspective brand in two words. 

Versatile and rich.

Where do you buy your product supplies?

Jamaica, all of my suppliers are local.

What is your favourite traditional dish, and why?

Ackee and Saltfish.

What is your favourite childhood memory?

Going to my boarding school and whenever my mom came with tuck (groceries).

Where did you attend high school?

Iona High School and William Knibb Memorial High School.

Which local activist/personality do you admire the most, and why?

Lisa Hannah because she is strong, beautiful and smart.

What advice would you give young creative entrepreneurs?

Start with your first idea, and work from there. You cannot fail, you can only learn and become better at what you know.

What major developments would you like to see happen in Jamaica in the next 20 years?

Crime reduction is necessary. Also, within the next 20 years I would like our country to be driven by entrepreneurship and business development.

Where would you recommend as a ‘must go’ to a first time visitor to the island?

The Blue Lagoon in Portland.

Considering a staycation, where in Jamaica is your favourite place to unwind and recharge?

There are a few local hotels that I have enjoyed visiting, these are Jewel Runaway Bay, Iberostar, Silversands, and Rui in Negril.