Cassandra Taylor, one of Jamaica's upcoming models.
-Contributed photo
Alicia Roache, Staff Reporter
THE LATEST model to watch is Zahni International Model Management's (ZIMM) Cassandra Taylor. She is 14 years old, six feet one inch tall, weighs 108 lbs. In an industry where youth, height, body size and image are everything, Cassandra is a model agency's dream come through.
The 14 year-old won the 'Supermodel of Jamaica 2003' title three months ago in Mandeville and since then Cassandra says her life has been 'madness' and 'crazy'. "Everyone has been wild about me at school, church and in my community," she says.
As the reigning supermodel, Cassandra was scheduled to go to one of New York's top agencies, Karin, where she would have explored various opportunities to model overseas. However, in April, Cassandra will instead go to Eon Model Management, also in New York, United States, to begin training and do the show season, which runs through April to early September.
This change in plans, says Marlon Bolton, Zahni CEO, is to facilitate Cassandra's education. According to him, Cassandra would otherwise have to go for three months, beginning in January, and then for two months, beginning in June, for the show seasons with Karin. "That would mean no school for about a year and I don't want that for somebody that is 14," he says. "I want her to work in the summer and come back for school."
The young model grew up in Mandeville, Manchester, in a 'humble, cool and safe environment'. Cassandra was discovered on the streets of her hometown while on the way from school. The grade nine, Belfield High School student was promptly introduced to Bolton by the scout who spotted her and, after consultation with her mother, was signed to the agency.
MAIN SOURCES OF SUPPORT
Her mother, Winnifred Morgan, and Zahni CEO Marlon Bolton, are her two main sources of support. Cassandra does not know her father, but that will not prevent her from seeking success.
She also has the support and guidance of local fashion experts, whose job is to mold her into fashion's 'next big thing'. Cassandra is being styled by designer Dexter Pottinger, is taking grooming classes with Charmaine Duhaney, and her image is being developed and refined by Trace magazine photographer and afflictedyard.com owner Peter Ricards.
"She is the next Nadine Willis, but she is younger, taller and slimmer," says Bolton.
With all the 'madness' surrounding the young model she is staying remarkably levelheaded by trying to live as normal a life as is possible. Her routine, she says, consists of going to church, school, practice and the hairdresser (she is growing out her natural hair).
For now, that is the only adjustment to Cassandra's life. "I'm wonderful. There is
nothing that I'd like to change," she says.
