Singer Nesta Nelson creates history as Guyana’s first female dancehall monarch

For Guyanese-born artist Nesta Nelson, winning the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport-organized Mashramani Dancehall Monarch title in Georgetown is a moment she will cherish for the rest of her life.

“It feels great because being a woman in a male-dominated competition,” she told Caribbean Life after winning the competition on Sunday night, Feb. 15. “I had to level up triple times more to earn that title.”

The East Coast Demerara native took the top prize thanks to her popular dancehall single “Ride”, a song she deliberately chose to push herself beyond her Soca comfort zone.

“I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and pay homage to a genre that is bold, confident and expressive,” she said, describing the move from Soca to dancehall as a natural evolution.

The strategy worked.

“Ride had the best crowd response based on the marketing strategy my team and I used to make the song popular,” Nesta said.

When asked what set her apart from the other competitors, her answer was simple and assured: “My vision for creativity and artistic expression.”

Having won the Junior Calypso Monarch titles in 2007 and 2008 as a child prodigy, Nesta was elated with winning the dancehall competition in 2026, declaring the victory carried deep meaning.

“This is the result of discipline, setbacks and unwavering belief,” she said.

As Guyana’s first female Dancehall Monarch, Nesta is already focused on the future.

“Creating more great music that resonates with fans across the globe is what I intend to do,” she said. “This title is just the beginning.”