NIKKI Z - NOW 'QUEEN DIVA' AT IRIE

When music maven and Diva Nikki Z got the offer to work in Jamaica with popular radio station ZIP 103 – there was no hesitation. After having already conquered so many feats in radio in the tri-state area, this would be a great opportunity to work closely with the movers and shakers in radio, reggae and dancehall on the Rock.

She hosted ZIP’s early morning show between 6:00am and 10:00am from March 2006 to December 2008. Her high-energy vibrant style improved the station’s ratings and purportedly pushed them to the number 2 spot, right behind Irie FM. Reputed as controversial, Nikki was suspended not once but twice for playing the unedited version of a song laced with profanities which she professes to being a genuine error. Although she issued an apology to the press, she was nonetheless suspended “indefinitely” by the station. Having left all her family back in the US, Nikki was not about to sit and wait on her reinstatement, so she upped and left.

Like the cat with nine lives, opportunity perpetually seems to visit her door, and she received yet another offer she could not refuse – from New York’s number one Caribbean station - Irie Jam Radio, 93.5 FM.

"Nikki is an exceptional talent and a radio host that I have a lot of respect for. When I heard she was suspended from Zip, I immediately contacted her and made an offer that she could not refuse" said Irie Jam' s head honcho Bobby Clarke.

"We made some changes to our program format to accommodate her as one of our on air personalities but I am extremely happy with how she has adjusted and listeners have welcomed her with open arms. She has certainly raised the bar and brought a new level of proficiency to Caribbean radio here in NY and in so doing has established herself as the 'Queen Diva' on radio in this market. No one can touch her" he exclaimed!

Clarke disclosed that her show is simulcast to 4 additional markets – Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey and Atlanta. The Digicel Top 30 Countdown which she also hosts on Irie Jam is a 3-hour syndicated program aired on 16 island stations including Jamaica, Bahamas, Bermuda and Haiti.

Born Nicole Duhaney in New York to Jamaican parents, Nikki recalls her love for music stemming back to early childhood. Although her parents may have entertained other ideas on their daughter’s future, she could not avoid her fate with the music and the entertainment industry and it wasn’t for lack of trying.

Nikki served in the US Army for 4 years and was deployed to Saudi Arabia and although not a believer in war, she learned among other things, personal discipline and physical and literal survival skills, skills which have helped her a great deal in working in a predominantly male industry.

Nikki has also worked with BET, the Wendy Williams Show, Power 104 in Connecticut and has had stints in college radio. The mother of a rambunctious 11-year old boy who admits to not being the best cook in the world, Nikki still has dreams and still has challenges. Her mother was recently diagnosed with melanoma cancer and although a shock, she is facing this challenge head on along with the support of her family.

One of her unrealized dreams – her own talk show. Known and respected in the industry for speaking her mind, Nikki lauds talk shows hosts like Wendy Williams and Howard Stern. Nikki feels freedom of speech should be just that and she looks forward to the day when as a talk show host she can exercise this without fear of censorship.

Nikki’s already has a full slate for Summer 2009 including being a host of Irie Jamboree – North America's premier which takes place at York College in Queens on Labor Day Sunday September 6 2009. She recently hosted Boom Bang Connect at Club Amazuru in Queens which featured Bounty Killa, DaVinci and hip hop artist Ron Brown and was one of the celebrities that laced up her boots at the annual Celebrity Soccer Match at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens.

No longer a rising star but a star that has risen, her true test will be to distinguish herself from the others stars in the sky, a challenge she has taken on with guts and with zeal.

Source:Tropicalfete