Alicia Roache, Staff Reporter
Nordia Gagor, winner of the Petite title of the Caribbean Model Search held in Mandeville on Sunday. - CONTRIBUTED
ANOTHER CHAPTER in the unending saga to become the next top model has closed. Seventeen girls, on Sunday, vied for honours to represent South Central Jamaica in the Pulse produced Caribbean Fashion Model and Petite Competitions in Kingston on August 20- 21.
The event which was put on by former model Althea Laing was staged at the Golf View Hotel, Mandeville.
On what is the very first stop in the quest, eight petite finalists and nine fashion model hopefuls got a kind of initiation into modelling, hoots and hecklers included.
Nordia Gagor, 17, emerged first place in the Petite competition, followed by Felicia McGregor and Danique Wells. "I feel wonderful, really wonderful. I've wanted this for so long," Gagor said at the end of the night.
The Fashion Model competition, on which an international modelling career is banked, was hotly contested among the top three, Cassandra Taylor, first, Jeseka Williams, second and Abbi Ann Cohen, third.
MINIMAL CROWD
Along the way, each contestant braved the very vocal, but minimal crowd to face Pulse CEO Kingsley Cooper, Fashion Director Romae Gordon and model Nadine Willis to be adjudged the best of the group.
With poise belying their limited experience in the field, the models presented designs by Les Campbell, Yardie Collections, Landy's Fashion and Shades of Africa, as well as outfits from The Swan Boutique and bikinis from the models' wardrobes.
The two men in the competition, Anton Cuffe and George Miller, whose brief appearance on stage brought the objection of a few men, also advanced to the finals.
"I think this really is something," said the contest's organiser and license holder for South Central Jamaica Althea Laing. "The Jamaican fashion industry, Althea Laing and Kingsley Cooper coming together. You better watch out," she said on stage at the announcement of the winners.
SUPER FASHION FACE OF JAMAICA
Cassandra Taylor, the 16-year-old winner who was also the winner of Zahni's inaugural 'Super Fashion Face of Jamaica' model search in 2003 was restrained in her response to the victory. "It's a good thing to do. All you have to do is put your mind to it and know that you can do it," she said. Of course, her chiselled features and staggering six feet one inch frame may also have contributed to the win.
When asked why she decided to switch agencies, she answered simply that she felt "Pulse is a better agency." Cassandra, whom Althea Laing said entered the competition just a week before the finals said she was encouraged by her teacher to enter at the last minute and names Pulse model Nadine Willis as her role model. Nadine, who appeared on stage to present the winner with the Althea Laing award inspired a mild frenzy after the competition as models, some patrons and a few photographers jostled for a photo opportunity.
"Uno mek hase nuh, a way a town mi haffi drive guh enuh?, Nadine said at one point to the long line of models backstage waiting for a photo with the model.
Pulse has also selected a winner from Grand Cayman. Shelliann Levy, 16 of local agency Ice Models won the first of the regional finals. Caribbean Model search winners from Barbados, Antigua, The Bahamas, Guyana, St Lucia, St Kitts and Trinidad are also expected for the finals.
