I first met Jermaine Jackson at the airport. Being Editor-at-Large of The Monegasque™ magazine is many things - predictable is not one of them.
On December 2, my friend, and The Monegasque™ magazine founder, Luiz Costa entrusted me with a rather charming mission: welcoming his longtime friends Jermaine, his wife Havana, and their little son, arriving in Monaco from the U.S.
By some small twist of destiny - or perhaps the Universe’s sense of humor - I ended up babysitting their son during The Monegasque™ magazine Gala dinner.
I immediately fell in love with the boy. He is a paradox in motion: a free spirit with a rebellious streak, and yet, when the moment calls, a true gentleman. One of his little secrets - shared only by observation - is that biting is one of his languages of love. He laughed, he smiled, and bit joyfully as we played. After the next bite, I suspected a little of that Jackson magic had rubbed off on me. Throwing his hat to the floor, then laughing as I returned it, became a game that seemed to have no end. He danced to Michael’s songs, played the piano, and moved with an exciting energy that could fill a room. Yet, when we walked together on the stairs, he was grounded, composed - a miniature prince in motion.
His parents reflect the same combination of creativity and grace. Havana paints portraits, loves design and fashion, and carries an artistic soul that complements her warmth and beauty. Jermaine conducts his own creative world through every second of his breath and remains very elegant and special with everyone he meets.
Watching Jermaine’s son, it was impossible not to notice flashes of Jackson talent - the sparks, the rhythm, the instinct for performance, even in play. But talent alone doesn’t tell the whole story. Their friend mentioned, that the father of Jermaine, Michael, and the rest of the Jackson brothers was famously strict, raising them with the precision of soldiers. Somehow, in that structure, an entire universe of artistry found the space to bloom, cultivating focus, attention to craft, and the ability to channel energy toward what truly matters: music, performance, family, life.
Today, Jermaine is preparing to open the Jackson Museum in the South of France, where Michael’s paintings will finally be unveiled. Time keeps moving forward, but the seeds of love continue living - and who knows where they might bloom next?