Proudly hailing from Belmont, Port of Spain, Cherisse maintains a profound connection with Trinidad

Carnival since her earliest days. Being born into a family of creatives and mas makers, she has been an active force in the mas since 1992. She is humbled and proud to carry the genes and last name of her beloved uncle the legendary Kenneth Wayne Berkeley (1940-2011), who still holds the record for the most band of the year titles (11).

Her first time playing mas was in 1993, despite Wayne’s hectic schedule and heavy workload while ensuring his portrayal of Strike Up the Band was underway, he crafted his niece a costume called “Inch Worm” later turning it into a nickname and a special bond between them both. Her journey continued when her father (Cletus Berkeley), uncle (Gary Tagallie), and family friend Roland Hosein started a Children’s Band competing in the regional competitions in central Trinidad. Her time after school would often be spent in the mas camp observing, learning and producing. Her love for carnival never faltered, graduating from kiddies carnival, the natural next step was jouvert, where again strong family ties and community fellowship played a big role. She proudly learned the esteemed traditional art of flagwaving from family friend and founder of Junabo Jouvert, Phillip (Junior) Jordan who has also transitioned into ancestry.

Cherisse infuses creativity into crafting Protest Mas with an innovative and imaginative twist, prioritising the use of sustainable and recycled materials for environmental consciousness.

At the core of Cherisse's Mas-making lies a commitment to inclusivity. Embracing diversity, her masqueraders are drawn from minority groups, fostering an environment that celebrates individuality and promotes acceptance. 

Cherisse's advocacy extends beyond Carnival revelry, addressing critical issues impacting minority groups,including the rights of the LGBT community, mental and developmental illness and disabilities, Domestic Violence prevention and intervention, and the protection of children's rights.

For Cherisse, art and creativity serve as not only personal passions but also integral tools for social change.

Through her artistic expressions, she endeavors to amplify the voices of those often unheard. Her advocacy canvas is broad, reflecting a profound commitment to creating a more just and inclusive society.

In the intersection of Cherisse's life and advocacy, the vibrant colors of art intertwine with the bold strokes of activism, creating a unique tapestry that speaks to the essence of who she is. Navigating the intricate dance between tradition and innovation, Cherisse's journey is marked by a resolute belief in the transformative power of art to shape a brighter, more equitable future, rooted in the culturally rich community of Belmont.

In 2025 the most recent generation of Berkeleys, young Emma Berkeley visited the camp, demanding her birth right – a costume. Cherisse, reflecting on that first costume Wayne made was again overcome with inspiration and ambition. Drawing from the inchworm and one of her favourite costumes by Wayne, a large 3D butterfly made for the Miss Universe 1998 pagent, the vision came to her almost instantaneously.

What started as a simple design soon became the most elaborate and intricate costume to come out of the BCR mas camp in 2025. Over 3000 triangles were cut from shopping bags and individually stuck with precision to give the wings dimension (and those in the camp much frustration), in the end not one but TWO beautiful butterflies graced the kiddies individuals stage.

housing, legal advice and health screenings.

On a constant quest to deepen her knowledge and love for mas, Cherisse succesfully completed the Ministry of Tourism Culture and the Arts' Mentoring with the Masters program in 2023, learning carnival theatre under the legendary tutelage of Mrs. Ellen O'Malley Camps. In 2025,

Community building and strengthening has always been a major focus of Cherisse's energy. In 2016 the then Mayor of Port of Spain had cast blame on women for being scantily clad for carnival on the streets of Port of Spain, this he said was the cause of Asami Nagakia's m*rder. Being incredibly rattled by these careless words of a man in such power, Cherisse successfully petitioned for his removal from office gathering well past 10k signatures within an hour on www.change.org. Cherisse played an instrumental role in the organisation of the first International Women's Day March and Rally in 2017 and Pride Parade in 2018. Along with Terry An Roy, Cherisse founded Queer Corner Caribbean, originally dedicated to educating the LGBTQIA+ community about legislation and the J Jones V Ag of Trinidad and Tobago case. The organisation later went on to hosting social events, fund raising and outreach including temporary

Cherisse is grateful for the skills that were passed down to them and knows that the only way to preserve these traditional skills is to teach others. They began teaching masqueraders in the camp how to bend wire for 2D and 3D framing along with papier mache techniques in 2024. She has been offering private classes and workshops ever since. Cherisse lead a workshop online to students at the Zurich University of the Arts in January 2026.

Beyond the mas and advocacy, Cherisse's core is story telling. As a journalist, she is committed to delivering a story with accuracy that captivates it's reader. Her work can be found in the Newsday's archive and in UWI Today, a monthly publication in the Trinidad amd Tobago Guardian.