Pulse model Gaye McDonald. - Contributed

Just months after her introduction to modelling's major markets, Pulse's Caribbean Model Search 2005 winner, Gaye McDonald, has landed Nordstrom, is booked for Armani and is holding court for Vera Wang.

It was almost two years ago when a striking, young beauty with great skin and personality emerged from over 200 girls to win Pulse's annual Caribbean Model Search (CMS). Following her win, with just one photograph, Pulse chief Kingsley Cooper 'fashioned' a bidding war between the industry's premier agencies, including IMG, Next, Women, Elite and Wilhelmina.

Next agency won the battle for the young model and she joined fellow Pulse alumnus and Victoria's girl Nell Robinson at the New York City, United States-based agency.

Gaye's steps toward worldwide fashion stardom came a year after winning the 2005 Caribbean Model Search, as she focused on completing her secondary education. However, she kept busy in the region's fashion industry by working with young Jamaican designer Keneea Linton and shooting editorials for St. Lucia-based SHE Caribbean magazine, as well as debuting at Pulse's Caribbean Fashionweek.

After completing her studies, Gaye booked Cosmopolitan, one of the world's premier fashion magazines, less than 18 hours into her international modelling career.

She then proceeded to book the New York Times Sunday Fashion magazine. After her hot Cosmo spread, Gaye and fellow CMS winners Chevolee Bell, Latoya Samuels and Nicole Gray were selected by Japan's leading fashion and lifestyle magazine Luire to be up front and centre in 18 pages of fashion.

Their section was the highlight of a 70-page spread, shot in Jamaica, and Gaye made the cover.

Now fresh from an extensive campaign shoot with leading fashion retailer Nordstrom, Gaye has projects with designer Vera Wang and Armani Exchange in sight.