Over the next few weeks as the Carnival season heats up, the Express will be taking a closer look at the women of Carnival who play a critical role in the festival. These women work diligently behind the scenes and are not afraid to show that when it comes to all things Carnival , they chip toe to toe with their male counterparts.

A wife, mother and co-founder of Genesis mas band, Nina McKenzie was able to take some time from her busy schedule to share with the Express her journey in Carnival. From the challenges to the triumphs; to the moments where there are no words to express the overwhelming feeling of seeing an idea come to fruition, McKenzie bares her soul and explains why Carnival has and will always be a part of her life.

Dressed in a simple T-shirt and tights and armed with a hot-glue gun, McKenzie was busy carefully placing each stone and bauble on a belt she made herself at her shop on Dengue Street, St James. Her workroom, at a glance, looked like a colourful bomb had gone off. However, there was one colour which dominated: Red; the colour which is the theme of her Carnival 2012 presentation – Kaleidoscope of Red. Reds of all shades capture the essence of Trinidad and Tobago and highlight the different ethnicities and cultures that make up our twin islands and are purposely woven throughout each section of the presentation, she said.

This year, there are eight sections on offer: Flaming Red, Heavenly Blue, Saucy Black, Blossoming Yellow, Zesty Green, Cotton Candy, Pinch of Orange and Trini. A thing of beauty and pride for the seasoned designer, McKenzie could not contain her undeniable joy as she showed off each section.

She said, "Before mas I did a number of odd jobs. I have a degree in interior and exterior decorating so I did work along those lines. I was mainly a person to do more private jobs so I did not work for any specific company. Practically, I have been self employed my whole life which is quite enjoyable since you work on your own time. I have been in mas for a number of years. I was a masquerader in the early years of Poison but always when I got my costume, I would take it and fix it up to my own liking. Then I did a couple of years with Barbarossa where I met Ian, my husband, in Barbarossa and then I was with Legends since their inception and now Genesis.

"I took more interest in Carnival because I loved doing things that deal with a lot more different materials. The high anxiety of dealing with feathers, glitter, glue and rhinestones and the excitement of shopping for those said materials. There is however a slight comparison with interior decorating and designing on all levels but then again you have to make your separation. I like dealing with people and helping them get organised. It is very intriguing when a customer comes in and you are able to help them choose a costume that is suited to their body; I find it fascinating," she said.

"You may find it strange but the late hours I enjoy. Being a wife and mother this entire process takes a lot of your time. I have such a wonderful team that works alongside me and the thrill at being able to do things with so many different materials I don't think a lot of people really understand it. Mas designing is no longer something where you invite a couple of friends over and cook a pot of pelau and hot glue some stuff; it's a job now," she said.

Though mas takes up most of her time, McKenzie says she enjoys the interior and exterior decorating she still does privately during the off-season.

She said, "Being a mas designer has been everything I hoped for and more. It is a tough job trying to come up with new designs each year. Though some people may think it is easy, I can assure you that it is not. It is one thing to visualise and another to see it on paper or costume. There have been times when I had to make several adjustments to costumes because what you saw in your head doesn't always work in real life but that's how you learn."

According to McKenzie one of the most important things a mas designer should be aware of is the competition. She also noted that having the ability to think quickly on your feet and work under pressure are traits that should be embedded in a mas designer to really be able to be the best as well as beat the best.

She said, "Sometimes when designs come to me it can happen in the wee hours of the morning. It is like a dream knocking on your head. You either take notes or do a sketch or these ideas can easily fade. During the process of working for Carnival sometimes things come to me and I tell myself I cannot put it out this year but I could put it out for next year. Originally Kaleidoscope of Red was not to be done this year; it was for the following year. But because there were other portrayals launched by other bands earlier this year I said no let me put it off and do this one. I believe Kaleidoscope of Red this year would stand out and I love to stand out. No one has brought out something like this. Kaleidoscope of Red is a variety of colours along with shapes. I love red; red is such an outstanding colour because of its power and strength. I also believe it would bring out the rest of the colours with this presentation.

On Carnival Monday and Tuesday we are coming out in all red. When you see the band it will appear to be a sea of red since all the head pieces are red. But when you get closer or as they get closer to the judges and the judging point then they would be able to see the various colours with each section such as the orange and the blues and the greens and the different shapes of the costumes."

According to McKenzie just because she is a mas designer her day is no different from anybody else. It is just like any other job you have to know what you are doing. If you are the CEO of a company you have to have your days planned out. I start my designs right after the Carnival season is over. I don't wait; I get my ideas down and then think about material. Two to three months after the Carnival season I really get into material and stones that I would need. Nothing is always as you expected but you have to make the best of it, she said.

"I am mom. My daughter is now 12 years old and her first Carnival parade took place when she was in my belly. I was five months pregnant and she had a blast. She went on to play in Kiddies Carnival then one year she came to me and said, Mummy I don't want to be in this anymore I want to be with you.

"Now she has fun on the road with us. It is a full-time job being mother, wife and caretaker of the home. It is also being

partner with my husband in the business. We've been married for 18 years and I love doing everything with him. We both love Carnival and share our ideas together. We have a lot of similarities, we love to dance; we love to work out in the gym and Carnival has always been a big part of our lives. It is our bread and butter but it is also our passion. We both are Leos and in him I found my soulmate. It is a very unique marriage."

According to McKenzie she would not be the person she is today had it not been for the Lord and his guidance.

She said, "We are a praying family. I am a devout Christian and believe in the Lord and it is because of Him we are where we are today. So everything I do, I give praise and thanks to Him and we grow up our daughter in the same way."

For costumes check out the website http://www.genesistnt2.com