By Barbara M. Simpson, Contributor 
NEW YORK :
WHO WOULD have believed that the petite, pigtailed girl from Bailey's Vale in St. Mary who sat quietly in elementary school would one day be a world class model.
Georgianna Robertson, described by the creative director of the renowned Vanity Fair magazine and the editor-at-large of American Vogue as "one of the few with good manners and education in the business of modelling", has come a long way.
From Jamaica's poorest parish to the glossy pages of top magazines like W, Essence, Elle, Miss Ebene, Harper's Bazaar, Allure and Complex, Robertson personifies style, grace and class, say her admirers. She's "the quintessential woman of the new millennium as she is the new multi-cultural, multi-racial, educated modern young woman," they note.
Robertson, who moved to New York at age 12, attended Hunter College. However, she says she developed a growing fascination with the sylph-like demeanour of models, and the exactness of their every move. She also recalled that her acting teacher had once told her that she should consider becoming a model.
Robertson told her parents, who objected. This, she adds, only increased her desire to enter the modelling world. It's the only time she can recall disobeying her parents.
She was given a chance to prove her mettle by the legendary fashion designer Yves St. Laurent in Paris when she promoted his cologne, Jazz. It has been more than 10 years and she has never looked back. Robertson models extensively in Europe but also works in the US As a high fashion editorial and runway model, she displays dresses and gowns for Chanel, Versace, Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren, Jean-Paul Gautier, Gucci.
Robertson says she is finally becoming accustomed to the "firsts" she is garnering -- first Black person to adorn the cover of Madame Figaro and, last year, the first Black model to be used by the prestigious L'Oreal group brand, Lancome. She is the world-wide ambassador for Lancome's newest line of cosmetics, Purple Rain.
"This Lancome campaign is for all women. It is universal. It has been great for me," she tells The Gleaner's New York office. Plus, she adds, "I was one of the models who did the Cartier campaign when Cartier celebrated their 150th anniversary and I had to learn Italian in three weeks in order to act in the Italian comedy version of 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner'.
"I know I am Jamaican, and I identify with our motto, 'Out of Many, One People'. I also know what my family went through so now that I have received some laurels, I say with all sincerity that I am truly blessed."
"I say I am truly blessed because four years ago Lancome wanted to use me, but because they had never done anything like that (using a Black woman for their products) they were hesitant. It was famed photographer Fred Farugia who told Lancome that "Georgianna is a beautiful woman, you should use her." She adds: "I am giving them of my best. If I have inspired even one young person over these years then all this would have been worthwhile."
In New York recently for a brief respite, Robertson says, with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, "I am editing some work for an upcoming project and my next campaign will be for Moet champagne." She would not elaborate.
She has also established her own web site for family and friends who lamented when she was home for Christmas that they did not know how she was doing abroad.
The last word belongs to French magazine, Miss Ebne, which refers to Robertson as La Perle Rare (The Rare Pearl) because where others in her career have wilted and become dull, Georgianna, even after a decade, shines, remaining gracious and beautiful, even sans cosmetics.
