The diminutive designer, popularly known for her beautiful crocheted creations, has been weaving her magic since age 10. However, she started doing so professionally only two years ago. Since that time, she has designed for clients such as Sean Paul, Buju Banton, and CeCile. But her clients are as varied as the colours of her thread. "Everybody buys stuff from me. From teenagers to business women, wives and men. I even do baby clothes," she says. "I've got so much support from the Jamaican people."

Minka grew up in two areas, Grange Hill, Westmoreland where her mother lives and Red Hills in St. Andrew where her father lives. Her life of relative ease and extensive travelling overseas helped to foster a free spirit, a spirit that helps her to find inspiration for her designs.

"I dream a lot. I'm a visionary, a spiritual person. If I want to learn something I go to school in my dreams," she reasons.

Minka's art is self-taught, but she learnt to crochet through the instruction of her aunt Aileen and by sheer determination. "I used to pester her, she would say go outside and play like everybody else, but they always say that I am too stubborn."

That stubbornness paid off Minka says. At age 17 Minka decided to literally pursue her dreams. She moved to Kingston and out of the protective embrace and easy life in Westmoreland.

"When I packed up my stuff and moved, my family was worried for a couple of months. But every time I was supposed to move back home somebody helped me out," she said.

Her tenacity and talent have ensured her survival in an industry that is sometimes unkind to persons trying to break through. However, Minka believes in the power of positive energy to ensure success. "What you give out is what you get," she says "so I never look at it in a negative way."

With that attitude and a lot of talent, she has emerged as one of Jamaica's most noted swimsuit designer. She has been requested for appearances on Caribbean Fashionweek and shows in Europe. However Minka has her sights set on much more than what she currently offers. "I want to be a stylist for movies and music videos," she says. "I'm trying to build a little empire. I doubt it's gonna be little though."

Being headstrong has forever been a part of Minka's personality. At age fourteen and while a student of Mannings School, Minka decided to 'lock' her hair. That decision caused a heightened interest in the young student from family, friends, schoolmates and teachers.

"Everybody said I was going to be wutliss. So you know I had to try really hard," she laughed. And that she did. As she observed, demand for her work has surpassed her capacity to fulfill same. According to her many big companies call requesting her products, but in quantities too large to fulfill; "They want 400 of this or 300 of that and I have to tell them that I cannot supply so much because its just me alone. Its gotten really big, its gotten outta my hands now, I don't have hands to do my stuff," she says.

MORE FROM MINKA

Who would you like to dress whom you haven't already:

"Oh my goodness. Erykah Badu. I guess she likes stuff like that."

Man or woman with the best style:

"My aunt Shiena. She always creates an impression on me that I should always look good when I'm going out."

Favourite fashion moment:

"When somebody tries on my clothes and they are like 'I love this'."

Most fabulous recent discovery: