The dancehall community bemoans the loss of Pinky, sister of Dancehall Queen Carlene, who died on Saturday while in the U.S. after a prolonged battle with cancer.
The revelation was made on Sunday by Carlene via Instagram; Carlene, the younger of the two sisters, had been diligently working to raise funds for Pinky’s treatment and was by her side throughout the challenging ordeal.
Carlene’s distress over her sister’s passing is evident in the heartfelt message she wrote, stating,
“This is one of the hardest things I’ll ever have to do, I hope, in my entire life… I don’t think it can get any harder than this. Yesterday at 3:15 Pinky passed. You guys know Pinky is my sister, we’re real sisters, it’s not just saying sister. Y’all know she was dealing with the deadly disease cancer for a couple years, it got worse last year and I really thought we were gonna get over this.”
Pinky whose real name is Doreen Prendergast battle with cancer has been ongoing since she discovered a small lump in her breast in 2020. Notwithstanding early intervention and radiation treatment, the cancer progressed to stage 2, devastating the family further. In April, it was revealed that Pinky’s condition had worsened, prompting a special appeal for financial aid from fans and friends.
In response to Pinky’s situation, Beenie Man launched the Pinky Initiative to raise funds for her treatment. He acknowledged her noteworthy contributions to his career, being the one who introduced him to Carlene, paving the way for one of the most well-known relationships in dancehall’s history.
The dancehall community and fans of the sisters are deeply saddened by the loss of Pinky, who will be remembered for her contributions to the culture and her resilience throughout her battle with cancer.