Singjay Queen Ifrica will sit in for singer Alaine on the judges panel for the final of the Tastee Talent Trail series to be held on Thursday, December 13, at the company's open-air theatre in its car park at Cross Roads.

Due to contractual arrangement Alaine will be off performing in Africa and will not be able to take her regular place on the judges panel along with fellow judges Oral Tracey and Amelia 'Milk' Sewell.

The Lioness On The Rise singer will bring her experience into play as six finalists will take the stage, vying for the top spot as Tastee Talent Trail's 2012 winner as well as the chance to pocket the $1 million first-place cheque.

Ifrica, born Ventrice Morgan, was raised by her mother as well as a supportive Rastafarian community in Montego Bay. She initially attracted attention when she outshone a field of contestants at a 1995 talent contest held at Montego Bay's Club Inferno; however, it was an auspicious meeting in 1998 with cultural singjay Tony Rebel following her performance at a benefit concert for the late reggae singer Garnet Silk, which provided Ifrica with a significant opportunity in the music business.

working as a team

Thereafter, the two began working as a team. Rebel produced six of the 13 tracks on her debut album Montego Bay, doubling as co-writer with Ifrica on several tracks. Rebel then presented her at the January 1999 staging of his annual reggae show Rebel Salute and thereafter there was no turning back for the Below The Waist hit maker.

Her first international single, Lioness On The Rise, was produced by Penthouse records CEO Donovan Germain who, ironically, played a significant role in the early career of her mentor Tony Rebel.

The Queen, who is also known by the moniker Fhyah Muma, is perhaps best known for the thought-provoking Daddy Don't Touch Me There single, which shone a light on the taboo subject of incest.

The Tastee Talent Trail Grand Finals, sponsored by Tastee, Pepsi, TVJ, FAME, T-shirt Express, Sparkles, and Kosmo Car Rentals begins at 6 p.m. on December 13, 2012, and it is free.