"IT'S A great time for black girls and guys. We have to give full credit to Nadine especially. Nadine and Jaunel have broken into the market and opened it up for other black models to follow," says Pulse CEO, Kingsley Cooper after his highly successful tour of fashion's major markets in January.
The tour was dubbed by Pulse as their 'amazing 20 days of January'.
In a feat described by Pulse as "unprecedented for the Caribbean in scope drama and importance", Kingsley Cooper led six of its top models on a tour de force of fashion's major markets. The tour began in New York in the United States (U.S.) on January 10 and ended in Milan, Italy on January 29, in the process incorporating major European markets such as Paris, France and Britain.
The elite six models were Pulse stars Jaunel McKenzie and Nadine Willis; Sanya Hughes, regarded as the 'Sexiest Woman Alive for North America and the Caribbean' according to Global Beauties (a web based fashion site); long-time Pulse model Nikki Vassell; along with newcomers Serchen Morris and Sunna Gottshalk.
As a result of Nadine Willis' unprecedented success in leading the Gucci campaign and the accomplishments of other models, Cooper reasons that a lot of agencies are now looking for black models; "but not just any model," he says "a girl with a signature."
JAUNEL
It seems Jaunel has that 'signature'. She has been on a bustling schedule since her debut, and especially in the past month.
In January alone, Jaunel shot campaigns for Abercrombie & Fitch and Neiman Marcus online in the U.S. This, just after returning from the Paris couture show for Ann Hash and Uno Kendo. But before she returned to the U.S., Jaunel did a shoot with Tank magazine and celebrated photographer Felix Lammers. On her return from Paris, Jaunel was booked to do work for famous men's magazine GQ and fashion magazine W. The first Jamaican model to shoot for American Vogue continues that trend with her fourth shoot for Vogue magazine in January.
Vogue continues to honour Jaunel with her own web pages on their Internet counterpart, Style.com. There Jaunel is featured as one of many successful models, including Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, in their Fall 2004 ready-to-wear, Spring 2004-ready-to-wear, and Spring 2004 couture collections.
When The Gleaner contacted Jaunel in New York recently the jetsetting model was on her way out the door to a casting and didn't have time to talk.
But while Jaunel is having an incredible run, Gucci campaign model Nadine Willis has not been outdone. On January 11, Nadine appeared on the cover and in six pages of Style, Britain's Sunday Times fashion magazine. She appeared in French Numero along with Jaunel and is also included in the campaign for Jaguar motors. Nadine has also done soon to be released campaigns for Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue department stores.
SANYA HUGHES
Miss Jamaica Universe 2002 Sanya Hughes, is reportedly now the 'lead talent' in the new KFC advertising campaign in Britain, while Pulse model Nikki Vassell has rejuvenated her long career by making her first Essence cover in January.
SERCHEN MORRIS
Pulse male superstar Serchen Morris has a magazine editorial in January with V magazine, while the young and upcoming model, Sunna Gottshalk, who is signed to Elite, nabbed Japanese Elle magazine's editorial as well as assignments for 'Orbit' chewing gum and 'Iman Cosmetics' at her first international casting mid January.
The volume and variety of work being garnered by Jamaican models promises good things for the local fashion industry, says Cooper. In fact, he is convinced that the models' success suggests, and is as a result of, Jamaica being now regarded as a kind of brand name for quality models in the international market.
"The market is thinking Jamaican now, Jamaica is actually developing a name now," he says. "The industry is on an upswing and it's a great opportunity for beautiful black girls," reasons Cooper. It would seem so as Pulse also wrapped up its impressive run with contracts for new and established models. Rochelle Watson is now signed to Select, London; former 'Supermodel of Jamaica' Reshima Hemmings is signed to Women,
New York; and Janelle Robinson recently signed to Women Milan,
and Select London.
