2PM: Mariah Carey’s $12,500-a night villa on the 300-acre tropical island is alive and almost antsy…A gang of hairstylists, fashion assistants, photographers, and makeup artists race around the open-air bungalow, each on their own mission to please.
5PM: The 5-foot-9 mirage prances past the overly attentive pack and heads towards a rickety boardwalk, which instantly transforms into her runway. A magenta silk robe whips against those endless, copper legs; black Christian Louboutin heels stab the sand; a wild halo of corkscrew curls flies.
7:30PM: Mariah Carey’s 38th birthday banquet is a Sweet 16 dream…Beckoning palms welcome guests to the entrance of the veranda…The scene inside is a strawberry-frosted pubescent fantasy: purple, pink, and white balloons dance in the balmy Caribbean breeze…And then Mariah’s posse begins to appear. Longtime confidante Shawntae “Da Brat” Harris breezes past…Recent acquaintance/music video director (“Bye Bye”) Nick Cannon grabs his laptop and goes to the buffet to fix a plate…Fuchsia feather boas drip from arms of every chair…Kitschy gold crowns, tiaras, and noisemakers adorn each place setting…As her guests fawn, Mariah drifts from friend to friend, beaming and blowing kisses.