Nackeisha RobinsonNINETEEN-YEAR-OLD Nackeisha Robinson has stormed the fashion world, wowing audiences, critics and fashion moguls (worldwide). Her appeal lies in her personality, her look and her body, according to Deiwight Peters, CEO of Saint International Model Agency.
According to reports, when Nackeisha walked or rather danced down the runway at the Julien McDonald Fashion show at London's Fashion Week in September, jaws dropped. After the initial shock, the entire audience rose to their feet applauding, an honour normally reserved only for fashion's elite models.
So what possessed her to dance on the runway? Nackeisha laughs as she tells The Entertainer: "I just heard the song playing, I liked the song so I just started to move. Besides, the dress I was wearing was not a walking dress. Afterwards, the other models started moving too - not dancing like me...just moving with the music" The Music? Lumidee's song Oh Ooh
This is a tremendous breakthrough for a young model. She is brand new and has not yet published any major editorials," says Peters. However, all that will soon change, as the attention she is now receiving is nothing short of phenomenal. Peters is very excited about Robinson's success. "She is a phenomenal 19-year-old model. This girl is a star. She has a strong personality and connects easily with people," he says.
Added to this is Nackeisha's unique look. Her catlike eyes, high cheekbones and thick lips completed by a fabulous body have made her a favourite of fashion designers and photographers from London to Italy.
After the show in London Edward Enniful, Fashion Director of ID Magazine immediately booked her for a 10-page spread with world-renowned fashion photographers Mert and Marcus. Vogue Photographer Corrine Day who is credited with making Kate Moss a success also met Nackeisha immediately following the show and requested a photo shoot with her. Julien McDonald, Britain's top designer selected her as his muse at the British Style Awards held the night following Robinson's dance treat. Nackeisha has also been booked for the Alexander McQueen and Givenchy Fashion shows and was called for the Iceberg collection in Milan.
According to Nackeisha's rep in Milan, Paul Hunt, the newspapers are reporting that she stole the show from Naomi Campbell; who was the only other Black model on the show. Despite all this Nackeisha and Naomi appear to be great friends. "She calls me her little sister" says Nackeisha. "It's the first time that Naomi has taken a black model under her wings" exclaims Peters. Naomi. it seems, has been talking about Nackeisha to all the important people in the fashion industry.
The whirlwind of success and attention that Robinson is now receiving is a far cry from the years growing up in a single parent home in Norbrook Heights in Kingston where she describes her life as "quiet". She admits that at that time she was a homebody. Nackeisha's mother, Cordia Douse, describes her as a "humble child who didn't like crowds." In fact, she saw no indication that Nackeisha wanted to become a model. "She didn't like wearing bath suits, she didn't like to expose herself" Miss Douse explains. For Nackeisha, however, it has always been her dream to become a model." I always watched the ads on TV and saw how skinny the models were and I thought, 'I can do that'" laughed Robinson.
As she got older people began to encourage her to pursue modelling. She saw the advertisement for CVM's Faces of Summer Competition, entered, and the rest as they say is history. The youngest of three children for her mother, Nakeisha says she gets a lot of support from her family, especially from her mother, and grandmother, Myrtle Marriott.
Cordia Douse is especially proud of her daughter and she credits Peters for her daughters success. "I owe it to Mr. Peters and Saint International. If it was for me she wouldn't be there, but Mr. Peters made it happen".
Peters insists on the development of models professionally. "It all has to do with the ingredients we look for personality, looks and body type. Nakeisha has all three."
Robinson was one of four models that SAINT had at the London Fashion Week. Also present were Dionne Stephens, Margo Morrison and Gabrielle Tennant.
Even though she is an obvious Trailblazer, Nackeisha's plans are not limited to modelling. "After I have gotten all I can get out of modelling, I plan to open a day care centre for children because I love children, or become a make-up artist or a designer".
Until that time, however, the sky's the limit for this young, hot, dynamic Jamaican model.
