Beauty Beyond What Meets the Eye: A Fireside Chat with Dr. Gabrielle Henry
On Friday, October 11th, Island SPACE Caribbean Museum welcomed guests for Beauty Beyond What Meets the Eye, an elegant and inspiring evening featuring Dr. Gabrielle Henry, Miss Universe Jamaica 2025. The event offered an intimate fireside chat moderated by Island SPACE Co-Founder and Executive Director Calibe Thompson, exploring themes of vision, power, and beauty that go far deeper than appearances.
Redefining Beauty, Resilience, and Purpose
The evening began with a private tour, during which Thompson guided Dr. Henry through the museum’s archives, highlighting its dedication to preserving Caribbean history. Once mingling concluded, attendees gathered as the formal discussion began, delving into Dr. Henry’s dual journey as both a medical doctor specializing in ophthalmology and a national beauty queen.
Thompson guided the conversation as Dr. Henry shared her journey from aspiring contestant to crowned Miss Universe Jamaica 2025, reflecting on her perseverance in achieving her goals, and the personal growth that fueled her success. She spoke openly about navigating societal beauty standards while redefining what it means to be truly beautiful, the lessons gained through various challenges along the way, and the empowering sense of community and sisterhood that pageantry has provided.
Sharing her passion for service, Dr. Henry discussed her See Me Foundation, which advocates for the visually impaired, and the personal stories that continue to shape her mission. She offered glimpses into her artistic side as well, revealing her love for salsa dancing (over dancehall!), and even delighting guests with a spontaneous rendition of the Jamaican National Anthem.
During the open Q&A, audience members asked questions about confidence, self-care, and the rituals that make her feel beautiful. The evening closed with a lively photo session and continued mingling, leaving attendees uplifted by Dr. Henry’s authenticity, intellect, and warmth.
Through Beauty Beyond What Meets the Eye, Island SPACE once again showcased its commitment to celebrating Caribbean excellence, highlighting stories that inspire, empower, and illuminate the many dimensions of beauty.
About Island SPACE
Island SPACE is supported in part by Visit Lauderdale, the Broward County Cultural Division, BBX Capital Foundation, the Community Reinvestment Alliance of Florida, “King” George Jograj, Dr. Lydia Malcolm of Authentic Behavioral Health LLC, and her husband, Mr. Waynewright Malcolm, Alexandra P. Davis, and the following funds at the Community Foundation of Broward: Judith Cornfeld Fund for the Arts, Helen and Frank Stoykov Charitable Endowment Fund, and The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation Broward Community Fund.
Island Society for the Promotion of Artistic and Cultural Education (Island SPACE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of arts, culture, history, and educational initiatives that represent the Caribbean region, in South Florida and the broader diaspora. The public is invited to visit the Caribbean museum Thursdays through Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. General museum entry is $15 per adult and $7 per child. Visit www.islandspacefl.org to learn more.
