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Home • Celebrity

Island Flavor: Stars with Caribbean Roots

Their roots run all the way to the Caribbean. Sure, the likes of Rihanna have made no secret of their island flavor—case in point is her annual trip back home to the Barbados to participate in Carnival. But did you know some of your favorite singers, actors and athletes had Caribbean roots? Find out who. You may find a few surprises.
By Yolanda Sangweni · Updated October 27, 2020
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01
Rihanna

We’re pretty sure you already know Rihanna is from Barbados.

Island Flavor: Stars with Caribbean Roots
PRIMADONNA/GEMAIRA/Splash News
02
Nicki Minaj

This Trini gal was born in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago.

Island Flavor: Stars with Caribbean Roots
Getty Images
03
Nia Long

The Best Man star’s mother is from Trinidad.

Island Flavor: Stars with Caribbean Roots
J. Countess/Getty Images
04
Maxwell

Our eternal crush is half Puerto Rican and Haitian.

Island Flavor: Stars with Caribbean Roots
Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images
05
Lenny Kravitz

The rocker’s grandfather was born in the Bahamas.

Island Flavor: Stars with Caribbean Roots
Jim Spellman/ Getty
06
Doug. E. Fresh

The hip hop legend was born in Barbados.

Island Flavor: Stars with Caribbean Roots
Jamie McCarthy/ Getty
07
Garcelle Beauvais

Beauvais was born in Haiti.

Island Flavor: Stars with Caribbean Roots
David Livingston/Getty Images
08
Laz Alonso

This Latin lover is of Afro-Cuban heritage.

Island Flavor: Stars with Caribbean Roots
Jerritt Clark/ Getty
09
Zoe Saldana

The Star Trek star was born in the Dominican Republic.

Island Flavor: Stars with Caribbean Roots
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
10
Estelle

The British songbird’s father is from Grenada.

Island Flavor: Stars with Caribbean Roots
Mike Pont/FilmMagic
11
Tia and Tamera

Tamera Mowry-Housley and Tia Mowry’s mom is from the Bahamas.

Island Flavor: Stars with Caribbean Roots
Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images
12
Tatyana Ali

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum is half Trinidadian and Panamanian.

Island Flavor: Stars with Caribbean Roots
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic & Mike Windle/Getty Images
13
Sanya Richards-Ross

The Olympic medalist was born in Kingston, Jamaica.

Island Flavor: Stars with Caribbean Roots
14
Melanie Fiona

The Toronto-born singer’s parents are Guyanese.

Island Flavor: Stars with Caribbean Roots
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
15
Naomi Campbell

The supermodel’s mother Valerie was born in Jamaica.

Island Flavor: Stars with Caribbean Roots
Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images and Karwai Tang/WireImage