Monique was born and raised in Barbados. When she was 15 years old, she moved to St. Vincent for several years, then to the United States in 2001. She currently lives in New Jersey and is pursuing her second master’s degree in homeland security, having earned her first in mental health. She initially became interested in designing sunglasses as a hobby, but was inspired by her family to evolve her hobby into a business and a career. Her first sunglasses debuted in August 2010 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. She has since sold sunglasses around the world to many fashionista clients.
Monique’s company, J.A.M. Sunglasses, was named after the two most important people in her life: her mother and her sister. J stands for Jestina, her mother’s name; A represents her sister’s name, Akeela; M is for Monique herself. J.A.M. Sunglasses is ushering in a new approach to sunglasses, where couture meets individuality. The 2010 collection, represents this new era. Each pair of sunglasses are handcrafted and one of a kind. Monique believes that sunglasses should be unique to an individual’s personality and identity, expressing an individual story through the eyes. This approach sets her apart from other designers.
Although Monique is relatively new to the fashion industry, her passion and desire to create unique sunglasses have enabled her to create a name for herself within the industry. Ultimately she seeks to bring fresh couture sunglasses to the market and spark a new evolution of eyewear.