ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É

As soon as a notification pops up on TikTok that Queen Widi Vybz has started a live session, thousands of viewers flock her pages.

Over the past three years, the entertainer, whose given name is Adaeze Henry, has been amassing a following because of her mixing and deejaying skills. She told THE STAR that when she started live streaming in 2022, she never thought that she would have more than 200,000 followers.

"I had not taken it seriously but just had it has a hobby, so I started out on an app called Beagle and then I realised that people were really making money from it when they created content. Before going to TikTok, I went to another app, then I went to TikTok, and not only was I live streaming, but I started battling a lot, and when I was battling, I would always play music in the background and people would ask if I was a deejay. I would tell them no but my sister is. My sister then taught me some deejaying skills and from there I would just play music and practise on my live sessions," she said.

Queen Widi Vybz said that her music following and general audience grew, and within a few months, she had attracted 100,000 followers.

"Last year, I hit 200k and now I heading to 300k. Because of the income that I was getting from TikTok, I decided to open up a LLC (limited liability company), so I did turn it into an actual business, and I made Queen Widi Vybz my stage name and a LLC," she explained. "Persons were reaching out to me for bookings and I realised that this was serious and that it wasn't just about battling or playing music, and that while the app is used for fun and entertainment, a generous income can be generated."

The St Hilda's Diocesan High School for Girls past student said she sometimes surprises herself as she does her commentary during her online deejaying sets. She added that her live sessions have boosted her confidence.

"When I am behind the turntables, I feel so confident and powerful. It's a feeling that I can't find the proper words to describe. I am even surprised at some of the things that I speak on the mic when I am playing. I find myself talking about things that I would talk about privately with my sister or friends. I am in a man's world and it feels so good being able to entertain both, and no one is taking offence or getting upset," she said between laughter.

Queen Widi Vybz said as she continues to earn an income through live streaming, she will be branching off to a more physical platform.

"My goal is to produce music initially but because I started off online and I see how powerful the streaming world is, I always want to continue to be a streamer and create online events, and I want to do it in person and go on tours as well. I realise that there are a lot of deejays who run their city in person but it is hard for them to break into the virtual world. I did it the opposite way where I started online and is branching off to doing it in person," she said.

The entertainer grew up in Jamaica with a Nigerian mother and Jamaican father; they lived between Kingston and St Ann.

"I grew up with both cultures pretty much in the household. Growing up, everything seemed normal to me. My mom prepared a lot of African dishes and when people were eating like curry goat, we were eating like egusi soup, fufu etc. My mom would wear her Nigerian attire wherever she goes and persons would call her 'Mama Africa.' I visited Nigeria as an adult and would go back and forth," she said.