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At just 11 years old, Teshae Star captured the nation's attention when her mother shared a video of her delivering a stirring rendition of Romain Virgo's anti-predator anthem, Dutty Man.

Moved by her delivery, Virgo invited the young talent to share the stage with him at Reggae Sumfest in 2019 - marking the beginning of a promising journey.

"I was really nervous," Teshae Star admitted, recalling the bright lights and massive crowd at Jamaica's biggest reggae festival.

Her courage paid off. The moment opened doors to new friendships and industry connections. Even at just 11, she began receiving recording and partnership offers--many of which had to be declined because of her age.

But not all experiences were positive.

"People who I didn't know started to run in and was like, 'Can I be you friend?' But I have to be the one to know that it's not right to be friends with everyone who wants to be friends with me. I have to choose my company wisely," said Teshae Star.

Her mother, Carlesha Scott, shared that Teshae Star received disturbing messages on platforms like Instagram and TikTok - some even going so far as to say she should die if she refused to accept a friend request.

"This affects her mentally, and makes her a little fearful. ... I'm asking them to just stop. It's okay if someone doesn't want to be your friend, because she cannot be friends with everyone," Scott stated.

Now 16, with more vigour, profound messages and a stronger warning to child predators, Teshae Star is continuing her advocacy for the protection of the nation's youth.

"Recently, I see a lot of children dying from the [hands] of the same dutty man dem, and it's just not okay," Tashae said.

The teenage vocalist referenced the murder of Kelsey Ferrigon, a nine-year-old girl whose partially nude body was found inside a barrel at her home in Spanish Town, St Catherine last month. She says the gruesome incident underscores the need for greater protection of children, a cause for which she pledges to continue raising her voice.

"How can you, as a big man, have your eyes on an eight-year-old? That's just not right! For you to be thinking to hurt a kid, it's heartbreaking and it's not okay," she said.

Beyond advocacy type tracks, Teshae Star is also growing as an artiste. Her latest single, Instigator, blends reggae and dancehall with personal pain and insight.

"The message was just to warn others to be careful because your same friends can lead you astray, stab you in the back, and dem same one can bad mind you for no reason, even when you're there for them. So it was just me telling people to be careful a fake friends," she shared.

Balancing entertainment and school hasn't been easy, but Teshae Star has found her rhythm. Now a student at Camperdown High School, she remains focused on her studies while building her musical career. Looking ahead, she dreams of becoming both a successful recording artiste and a real estate agent.

Scott believes the timing is finally right for her entertainment career to take flight.

"Now that she's older, and I'm more knowledgeable about the music, you can send back your offers because she's ready," she said.

And according to Teshae Star, she's always been. "I've been singing since I could talk," she said, her passion as clear as her voice.