Freelance Contributor
Reigning Chutney Soca Monarch (CSM) Queen Reshma Ramlal has announced that she will not defend her title in 2026, saying her decision is rooted in a long-standing commitment to create spaces and opportunities for other women in the industry.
In an interview with the Sunday Guardian, Ramlal explained that the decision was made collectively with her management team, led by her son and Drumsy Entertainment.
“Together with my team, my son, who is (my) management, Drumsy Entertainment, we decided not to defend my title this year,” she said. “That was never our intention when we got the Queen title.”
Ramlal, a veteran of the Chutney Soca industry, said her victory in 2025 was the culmination of a journey spanning more than two decades. She has been in the music industry for about 25 years and competing for nearly 15, placing in the finals of the CSM competition on five occasions before finally claiming the crown.
Ramlal won in 2025 for her collaboration with Shivonne Churche-Issacs, known as Lil Bits, for their song Poowah Nah Ready.
Reflecting on her experiences, Ramlal said one of her biggest motivations over the years was addressing what she viewed as a gender imbalance in the competition.
“From the inception of my entering the Chutney Monarch competition, I saw the advantage and the unfairness. The majority of the finals always had men. We women worked just as hard, put out just as much, but it was always about the men,” she said.
She stressed that her advocacy was never meant as an attack on her male counterparts. “No offence to any of the guys. I love all my kings in the competition. We have a very good relationship in the industry,” she added.
Ramlal described herself as a vocal advocate for women in Chutney Soca, using interviews, social media and direct conversations with promoters to push for change. Her efforts paid off in 2020, when CSM promoter George Singh introduced a Queen category.
“My voice was heard, and I was overwhelmed,” she said.
Ramlal revealed that winning the title in 2025 was never her primary goal. After taking a three-year break from competition to rest, reset and study the format, she returned mainly to reconnect with her supporters.
“My intention was to prove a point that my fans missed me, that they love me and support me 100 per cent,” she said. “Without fans and followers, we are nothing. They are the ones who make us and can break us.”
By choosing not to defend her crown this Carnival season, Ramlal said she hopes to give another woman the chance to experience the joy she felt.
“I want another queen to feel those emotions, the happiness, the love,” she said. “I want them to say, ‘Yes, I finally did it.’ It took me 15 years in competition and 25 years in my career to do it.”
Ramlal recalled dreaming of that moment as a child, watching the competition on television with her father and telling him that one day she would stand on that stage and win.
“You manifest what you want. It took years, but it happened,” she said. “I’m very proud of myself and very proud of my team.”
Ramlal also expressed gratitude to George Singh and South X Promotions for providing a platform for artistes across generations and genders to showcase their talent and promote Chutney Soca on a global stage.
“This is my love, my passion. This is what I live and breathe every single day,” Ramlal said, noting that she has been singing since the age of five.
She paid tribute to her fans for their unwavering support and to her children, whom she described as her biggest support system following the loss of her parents and siblings.
“I’m a single parent. I raised my children on my own. Everything I accomplish in life is for them,” she said. “This is one of my biggest goals achieved, but I have many more.”
Looking ahead for the rest of 2026 and beyond, Ramlal hinted at new creative directions.
“I have big things in store, surprises,” she said. “I will be doing different genres of music. I want people to see that I’m not only a chutney soca artiste, but a versatile artiste who can sing any genre of music.”
