JAMAICA | Fontana CEO Earns "Beauty Icon" Status as Industry Heavyweight Reshapes Jamaican Market

KINGSTON, Jamaica, May 17, 2025 — Anne Chang, Fontana Pharmacy's Chief Executive Officer, will receive this year's prestigious Beauty and Wellness Icon Award, Beauty Expo coordinator Suzette Brown announced today. The honor arrives as Jamaica's beauty industry experiences unprecedented growth, even as questions linger about the balance between corporate expansion and support for local entrepreneurs.

"We commend Anne Chang's visionary leadership as Fontana launched 'Ora', a ground-breaking new entity focused on retailing high-end beauty products, further revolutionizing the industry," Brown stated in a formal announcement. "Her success in securing exclusive distribution rights for Fenty Beauty in Jamaica is a remarkable achievement and business feat, and we are thrilled to recognize her as a true icon whose contributions have inspired industry professionals and consumers alike."

The award will be presented during the opening ceremony of the Jamaica International Beauty Expo (JIBE) on June 27 at Kingston's National Arena, marking a crowning achievement in Chang's remarkable career trajectory.

Under Chang's stewardship, Fontana has transformed from a respected family business into the Caribbean's dominant beauty retailer. Her aggressive expansion strategy has seen the company modernize operations and elevate customer experience standards across Jamaica, though some industry watchers have questioned whether smaller competitors can survive in Fontana's lengthening shadow.

Chang's calculated gambit with "Ora," a luxury beauty retail concept, represents her latest power play in Jamaica's increasingly competitive beauty landscape. Her masterstroke in securing exclusive Fenty Beauty distribution rights has been widely regarded as a game-changing move that fundamentally altered the market dynamics.

The Beauty and Wellness Icon Award, presented annually to leaders exhibiting excellence and transformative impact, coincides with JIBE's sixth staging in Kingston. The three-day extravaganza, running June 27-29, will convert the National Arena into a beauty marketplace where industry professionals, brands, and innovators converge in what organizers hope will generate substantial economic activity.

Launched with considerable political backing from Senator Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, the expo operates under the pragmatic theme "The Business of Beauty." Its stated mission remains providing a platform for micro, small, and medium enterprises in hair, nail, makeup, fashion, and wellness sectors, with international exhibitors expected from across North America, the UK, and the Caribbean.

A coalition of corporate sponsors including JAMPRO, HEART/NSTA Trust, and Stewart's Automotive Group has assembled to support the event, each presumably eyeing opportunities in Jamaica's expanding beauty market.

For beauty entrepreneurs and consumers looking to navigate this rapidly evolving landscape, more information can be found at beautyexpojam.com or by following @beautyexpojam on social media platforms.

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