Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Jaunel sportive in Lacoste in New York Fashion week. - Reuters
DAAHLINGS, WHOEVER it was who said that 'Blondes have more fun', never met a hot runway model, working the ramp; or a 'drag queen', in full flight for that
matter!
Dears, it's the stuff of which dreams are constructed! The break-through offer make some go green in absolute envy. Some others use all their charms to capture, and when this does not do the trick, a little obeah, or its equivalent, is deployed in the service of snaring the all-important right to rep on the runaway or be the featured face or body for numerous designers and or products, first nationally, and then globally!
HAUTE-MODELLING
Now sweet-things, the world of haute-modelling is by far one of the more coveted professions there is. Those who break out from the hounding pack of wannabes and rise to the top of the game, attain instantaneous celebrity status and one name recognition previously reserved for rock stars. With this comes wealth and the potential for further career spin-offs into celluloid stardom and/or the life in the fast lane, punctuated by leisure, parties and more parties.
The world of top flight supermodels is a very small one, and usually restricted to young ladies of the First World. Jamaicans, however, have joined this elite group of the fabulous and are now card-carrying members of the supermodels of the world, jetting from London, to Milan, then on to Paris and New York, with stopovers in between at other fashion centres of the world.
And now dovecakes, the fab young ladies of Jamaica are now representing us on international catwalks as leading ambassadors of our drive and determination to reach the top.
FASHION SEASON
Pumpkins, from New York where it begins to Paris where it ends, it's fashion season across the globe; the season of hot-designers, fabulous models, fashion scribes, fashionistas and buzzing cities. This year the Jamaican contingent is no longer knocking at the doors seeking entry; they are leading the pack.
Daahlings, the Spring/Summer Collections 2006 is here, and the designers are showcasing their stuff with a vengeance. And as the International Season of Fashion Week gets under way, and fashion hopefuls from around the globe jet into the leading fashion centres of the world to beg and/or queue to be at showings, the truly chic and happening are burning up runway as they move from party to party. And dears, it is the season for parties, and the truly chic, are indeed busy partying their designer duds off, and then some!
CAUGHTUP WITH
Caught up (via satellite) with high-flying Pulse models Kimanee and Sunna in New York; Nell and Rochelle in London and of course, Jaunel, the runway queen of choice for the major collections. In fact, the hot miss is jetting off to Milan from London for this week's shows, where she will no doubt prove why she is the current Queen of the Ramp. Next week she'll be in Paris, where she will be one of the catwalk stars helping to bring the curtain down on the season in fine style.
As partying is good for the soul and the season, Jaunel attends to the collections after-parties, as part 'n' parcel of her work schedule, and like everyone else loves a good party. But she chooses to attend on off nights as against in the middle of ramp work, unless of course, clients and designers requests her presence, (which they usually do) for premium affairs. Dears, little wonder here but Jaunel is among names and celebs of the likes of Kenneth Cole, Michael Kors, Proenza Schouler and Oscar de la Renta who the international paparazzi rush to photograph, whenever she puts in an
appearance.
Sunna, my dears, is also running it hot, nabbing some of the really coveted shows, including Richard Tsong and Brit import Jeremy Scott; while Kimanee is also cooking on the runways this season, much the same as last season.
OVERSEAS MODEL
Now in London, U.K.-based Pulse supermodel the ultra cool, Nell Robinson, is fashioning her path as the new darling of the designers and photographers alike. Since her Arena cover and Gossard lingerie campaigns she is now an in demand celeb for hot parties. And y'all will remember that both Jaunel and Nell have a special place in Caribbean fashion history, both having won the first ever Caribbean Model Search in 2002 Jaunel, Fashion Model and Nell, Supermodel.
The designers and model agencies host our girls in the clubs (such as the sizzling Boujis or Movidas), boutiques (both Burberry and Donna Karen had theirs in their Bond Street stores), private mansions (such as Jasper Conran's little 'do" in Central London), on yachts and just about anywhere you can imagine. Select, the London agency of Jaunel McKenzie, Nadine Willis and Nell Robinson had a scorcher at the very hip Club Aura.
But the one that still has everyone buzzing from gossip columnists to social-scribes was Jasper Conran's party for his friend and producer Jerry Devoux, dubbed by some as London's blast of the
season, and had Nell Robinson guesting as 50 of the hosts male models, (sporting nothing but thongs) serving champagne and miniature chocolate bars, working the room and causing the
temperatures to soar!
And there's still more partying to do, especially for the hot Ms. McKenzie, as designers Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci and Versace throw the best parties, and those are still to come, and for the Jamaican teenager named to Vibe's hot list of the top 100 people, places and things (the only supermodel to make the list), life in the fast lane is just heating up, as indeed, the buzz is, she is all set to be the undisputed Queen of all Runways, so wait for it!
By the way, Kingsley Cooper, in this the 25th year of Pulse, congratulations are in order, so there. Take a bow!
