The Brooklyn-based I am Caribbeing says it will return to the iconic West Indian American Day Caribbean Parade with its boldest Monday Mas presentation yet, “Teefing Di’ Parkway – Midnight & Madame Robberz Edition.”

“Inspired by the rebellious swagger and theatrical bravado of the legendary Midnight Robber, this boutique Carnival band is loud, proud and unapologetically stylish — bringing Caribbean heritage to life with a modern twist,” Trinidadian-American band leader Shelley Worrell told Caribbean Life on Friday, Aug. 15. 

“Monday Mas is more than a parade — it’s a cultural movement,” added the founder and chief curator of I am Caribbeing. “As part of I am Caribbeing’s mission to celebrate Caribbean creativity through immersive experiences, this year’s band champions inclusive, body-positive costumes (S–3XL), sustainable couture, and road-ready vibes that honor tradition while pushing boundaries. 

“Monday Mas is more than costumes and music — it’s a living, breathing expression of who we are as Caribbean people,” Worrell continued. “This year, we’re honoring tradition while inviting the next generation to dream boldly and create fearlessly. From Mila’s inspired design to the joy we’ll share on the Parkway, this is mas with heart, style, and soul.” 

Worrell said that every weekend in August, masqueraders are invited to the mas camp at 1399 Nostrand Ave., Brooklyn, “where they can sip Bounty Rum, bedazzle their costumes, and get parade-ready in true Caribbean style. 

“Expect vibrant energy, community spirit and hands-on creativity,” she said.

Worrell said this year’s breathtaking costume design is the creation of Mila Smith, a visionary 14-year-old designer from Trinidad and Tobago, “whose boundless imagination earned her the top prize at the 2024 Red Cross Emerging Designers Kiddies Carnival Costume Competition.”

Worrell said Mila’s design blends “bold artistry with deep cultural reverence, capturing the essence of traditional mas with a fresh, fearless perspective.” 

Smith said: “Never did I think when I started my design journey that I would be given the opportunity to show what I can do internationally.

“It’s truly been an honor to be able to give a taste of what Trinidad and Tobago traditional mas is all about to the people of New York,” she added. 

For more information, email Worrell at shelley@caribbeing.com; or Dawn St. Hilaire at dawnie@caribbeing.com