Born in the rural heart of Cayon, St. Kitts — once known more for its shadows than its light — 24 year old Shamar Pemberton is a living testament to the power of transformation. Raised in a close-knit community where the phrase “it takes a village to raise a child” wasn’t just said but lived, he carries the strength of his roots in every step, every word and every note played.

Shamar’s academic journey mirrors the same drive he brings to the stage. He graduated as Valedictorian of the Immaculate Conception Catholic School, earned the title of Runner-Up TVET Scholar at Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, and later graduated with Honors from DeVry University, all while pursuing his passion in the realm of Information Technology. His intellectual curiosity is matched only by his creative fire.

A passionate music educator and steel pan performer, Shamar pours himself into the rhythm of culture, discipline, and expression. Whether guiding young minds through music theory or performing alongside local orchestras, his life moves in harmony with purpose. A former tennis and volleyball player turned gym enthusiast, he knows that true strength is forged not in ease, but in effort.

Shamar is no stranger to the stage — a natural showman with the poise to command a crowd and the humility to connect with others. He has hosted events, written poetry, and even re-emerged as a dancer, allowing his body to speak where words sometimes fall short. Shamar dabbles in French and Spanish, but, fluently speaks in empathy, curiosity and authenticity — the languages that humanizes an individual and truly makes them “cool.”

Now, as a participant in this year’s staging of the 2025 Mr. Kool Competition he steps forward not to prove perfection, but to live his truth. Despite societal pressures that once urged silence over self-expression, Shamar now rises with quiet defiance. He chooses openness over armor, creativity over conformity, and self-love without condition.

He believes in one thing above all else:
“Love… just because.”
No reason. No transaction. Just the kind of love that speaks in actions, forgives in silence, and never needs a stage to be real.

In a world that too often rewards masks, Shamar shows us the art of being unapologetically human.