Cindy Breakspeare


Cynthia Jean Cameron Breakspeare is a Canadian-Jamaican jazz singer, musician and beauty queen. Breakspeare was crowned Miss World 1976. Breakspeare is the mother of reggae musician Damian Marley, through her relationship with Bob Marley, who remained married to Rita Marley until his death. Bob Marley is said to have written the song "Turn your lights down low" about her.

Life and career

Breakspeare was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to a Jamaican father, Louis Breakspeare, who was a British-Jamaican of multiracial ancestry, and a white Canadian mother of British origin, Marguerite Cochrane. She has three brothers and one sister. Breakspeare moved to Jamaica when she was four years old, and attended the Immaculate Conception High School, graduating in 1973. As a teenager, Breakspeare participated in beauty pageants, including Miss Jamaica Body Beautiful and Miss Universe Bikini. She was invited to participate in the Miss World competition in 1976 held in London, and won the title on November 19, 1976, becoming the second Jamaican to do so.

Personal life

Breakspeare had a relationship with reggae musician Bob Marley beginning in 1977, lasting until his death in 1981. From their relationship she gave birth to a son, Damian Marley, in 1978. Three years later, Breakspeare married senator Tom Tavares-Finson in 1981 with whom she has a son Christian and a daughter Leah. Breakspeare and Tavares-Finson later divorced in 1995. Breakspeare married musician Rupert Bent II in 1999. Breakspeare has been pursuing her career as a recording artist and entrepreneur. She founded a Rastafarian craft store called Ital Craf in Jamaica. Breakspeare has four grandsons from her three children.

Filmography