A St. James, Jamaica, woman hid in plain sight when she claimed millions in the regional Super Lotto.
N. Gray took the net by storm with her simple but effective disguise as she collected her May 11 winnings from the Caribbean lottery, reports the Jamaica Observer. Donning an emoji mask and a kente cloth dress, she held up her cheque of 180,900,000 million Jamaican dollars ($1.4M) in the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston with pride.
Today we are in the presence of Jamaica's newest #SuperMillionaire. N.Gray! pic.twitter.com/dSfn6ImaRY
— Supreme Ventures Ltd (@SVLGrp) June 5, 2018
While speaking to the Jamaica Observer, Gray said she wore the disguise to keep a low profile now that she's a wealthy woman. Like many who play the lotto and believe they can win, her victory wasn't an easy feat. She spent years playing and falling short.
But the last few months were different. Gray brought two sets of numbers, played them and discovered she won when her son checked the numbers on the Supreme Ventures Ltd (SVL) website.
“I was watching TV, and the ad came on that someone won the Super Lotto from Jamaica," Gray said in a press release from SVL. "So, I went for my ticket and told my son to go on the Supreme Ventures website, and he started reading the numbers. He said six, and I said 'yeah,' super ball 10 and I said, 'yeah,' and he said 'you win it!'”
Playing the lottery was a way for her to earn some quick cash to pay off bills and get out of debt. Even though she plans on keeping her job, she wants to enjoy her new riches, take a cruise and invest.
And just like that, N. Gray goes from being an ordinary Jamaican to a #SuperMillionaire. Congratulations from Supreme Ventures. pic.twitter.com/OUrOkEvanc
— Supreme Ventures Ltd (@SVLGrp) June 5, 2018
Gray entered the hotel with the mask and wig and left without anyone knowing who she was.
A few folks on Twitter questioned why she went to the elaborate press conference that could potentially put Gray in harm's way in the first place. User @_Roshanee suggested hosting a private ceremony in the future, but SVL said it had to be public to avoid legal issues and questions regarding transparency.
Hey. Why are press conferences necessary when someone wins that amount of money? Why not do something private to protect them ? ???? https://t.co/UlODIXKHPR
— Shane (@_Roshanee) June 5, 2018
Condition of our licence issued by regulator to declare the winner, Shane. Plus – integrity and transparency! https://t.co/N2wkncRga9
— Supreme Ventures Ltd (@SVLGrp) June 5, 2018
Gray's clever disguise won a lot of people over. For some, she is the visual representation of securing the bag without drawing too much unnecessary attention to oneself.
This lady anonymously signing for her lottery winnings in an emoji mask and a bank heist curly wig is a visual representation of how I’ve been securing the bag lately without any desire to be seen. pic.twitter.com/n9HAku57xY
— Ty Hobson-Powell, M.A. (@TyHobsonPowell) June 7, 2018
Her mask is giving me life, mood af. https://t.co/Da80fk8J39
— Erin♥ (@DiamondEriberri) June 5, 2018
Count that money! Congrats!