September 22, 1970 –   Shawn Marissa Nicholas was born to Gerald Nicholas and Eileen Richardson from Newfield and Wilikies, respectively.

Shawn was raised on the Mayers Estate, Wilikies, where she resided until adulthood. The original Estate House was her primary residence until Hurricane Hugo (September 1989). She attended the Wilikies Primary School, Pares Secondary School, and the Antigua State College (ASC).

Her pathway to journalism opened in late1988 when she was part of a youth panel discussion on ABS TV. Shortly after, in 1989, Tanny Rose Sr., then General Manager of ABS, scouted her to co-host the popular television program Feedback with Carl Jackson.  Upon Carl’s departure, she continued to co-anchor with Ivor Williams-David, then Peter Gordon.  She joined ABS full time on completion of her A Levels at ASC, rising to the position of News Editor.

Shawn was the first journalist in Montserrat after the 1995 volcanic eruption. She was part of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union’s (CBU) crew, an all-Antigua-Barbuda team (Hubert Joseph and Cortwright Grant).

After leaving ABS, she worked as the Public Relations Manager for the Medical Benefits Scheme and as a Marketing & Public Relations Executive for the Antigua Commercial Bank.

Shawn’s tertiary education pursuits began in 1992 at UWI, Mona, with a Diploma in Mass Communications.  She continued to a BA in Mass Communication from the same institution (1993 – 1996).  In 1999, she received the British Chevening Scholarship and completed an MSC in Journalism & Communication Studies at the University of Wales (Cardiff).

Senator Nicholas’ political career sprouted during her student life at Taylor Hall, UWI Mona.  She was elected as Block Representative and actively participated in successful campaigns for Hall Chairman and Guild President.  She served as an advisor at many levels during her studies at UWI.

Shawn entered elective politics at the behest of former Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, who fast-tracked her political career. Her two unsuccessful bids as the UPP’s Candidate for St. Phillip’s North in 2014 and 2018  led her to move away from electoral roles to the party executive and senatorial appointments.

First appointed to the Senate as a Government Senator in April 2013, Shawn was re-appointed as Opposition Senator in 2014 and 2018.  She was reappointed to the Senate in 2023 and served as minority leader in the House until November (19) 2024, when she was replaced in the Upper House.

She currently serves as General Secretary of the United Progress Party (UPP), a position she has held since becoming officially involved in electoral politics in 2014.

When asked why politics, Senator Hon Shawn Nicholas replied, “I always wanted to enter politics as my highest platform of national service, but I did sooner than I had anticipated.  The most Honorable Mr. Baldwin Spencer approached me, and I took the opportunity.  I have no regrets.  I may be poorer financially, but the personal growth and professional experience gained in the trenches have been priceless.  The training, the networking, the experiences are unmatched in any other environment”.

Shawn has had an active life of giving. Notably, she is a Vestry Member of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church and has served the Anglican Communion in the Diocese of North Eastern Caribbean and Aruba in various capacities. She is also a distinguished past president of the Kiwanis Club of St. John’s and has served as Chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board.

Senator Nicholas shared that her only noteworthy drawback in her current position is the limited time it leaves for volunteer work and the partisan perceptions in the small community of Antigua and Barbuda.