By Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter
Model Nadine Willis. Contributed
JAMAICA'S NADINE Willis, former exotic dancer turned international model, scored a major triumph yesterday, making history when she shot an editorial feature for top European fashion magazine, French Vogue after only three weeks on the international modelling circuit.
The events have put not only Nadine over the moon but also the two agencies which backed her, Jamaica's Pulse Investments Limited and one of London's top modelling agencies, Select.
It has been a dream come true for Nadine, who walked away from exotic dancing just over a year ago and was placed by Pulse into the British market barely three weeks ago.
According to Kingsley Cooper, head of Pulse, this is just another in a series of records set by Nadine, who left the island in early February.
In her first 10 days in the United Kingdom, Nadine signed a contract with Select Agency and modelled fashions for hot British designer, Richard Nichols during the recently concluded London Fashion Week.
Her second week she did a photo shoot for top British magazine, The Face, with prominent photographer, Norbert St. Loerner, and was selected for the editorial feature by French Vogue.
Although editorial shoots are non-commercial, when done for prestigious publications such as Vogue, it signals major stardom, Mr Cooper said.
What is unique about Ms. Willis, apart from the short time it took her to be selected for such a prestigious shoot, is that she is being featured alone, which, agency officials said, is unusual for black models in Europe.
"This is absolutely amazing. In my many years in the business, no one has ever moved to the top so quickly. This probably happens once in every 20 years. It is truly incredible," Head of Select's Women's Division, Sarah Leon was quoted as saying in a statement issued yesterday by Pulse.
"What is particularly amazing is that Nadine has been photographed alone for Vogue, not in a group, not with another model," she said. Mr. Cooper explained that when a black model is photographed for a major magazine, she is usually shot with one or two white counterparts, especially in Europe where the market is overwhelmingly white.
Mr. Cooper added that Nadine's quick rise and her being featured alone in French Vogue, may eclipse the outstanding performances of other Pulse models such as Jamaican Lois Samuels, who was featured in German Vogue in the mid-1990s but appeared with two other models.
Ms. Willis' rapid success has also prompted Pulse and Select to form a management collaboration to market and represent Ms. Willis worldwide, including in the United States and the rest of Europe.
"(We) both believe this to be a better strategy to propel her as quickly as possible to major stardom with the possibility of multi-agency representation in key markets at some future date," Mr. Cooper said.
He added that he was glad that the opportunity he had given Ms. Willis was bearing fruit for the young woman, who walked into Pulse last year, stating that she wanted to change her life.
The editorial featuring Ms. Willis was shot by famous photographer, Mario Testino, known for his portrayals of the late Princess Diana in British Vogue as well as his sessions with singing superstar and actress, Madonna and in the Gucci campaigns.
The Gleaner's own Flair magazine carried a feature on Nadine on February 24.
