The art of Beach Happy

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

What do you do when you’re a former Miss Teenage Anguilla, current soca queen and hotel concierge who’s desperately in need of yet another challenge? You open your own store, of course.

At least that’s what you do if you’re Rolanda Webster, a self-described “pageant brat,” who opened her own shop, Beach Happy, on Anguilla’s West End last October. The compact shop is filled with all the beach essentials: men’s, kid’s and ladies’ swimwear (from juniors to plus sizes); water toys for kids; and several locally made souvenirs, including Paradise Island body products and Fashion Cuts jewelry.

But what caught our eye – and has proved to be a runaway hit – is the store’s line of Beach Happy clothing. There are T-shirts, cover-ups and caps that feature the whimsical logo, but we’re particularly partial to the stylish and sun-protective rash guards, available in all sizes and in long- or short-sleeved versions, with printed or embroidered “Don’t Worry, Beach Happy” slogans across the front.

And on an island famous for its 33 pristine strands, we can’t think of a more appropriate piece of clothing to wear on them.