Guadeloupe CMS finalists (from left) Melissa Kellaou, Maite Baptiste, Olivia Mekel (winner), Pulse's Romae Gordon, Farida Lecoin, Elodie Bourgeois and Pricislla Flacou. - Contributed

AN ELEGANT 5'9" tall Olivia Mekel made history when she was recently selected as the first Caribbean Model Search (CMS) winner from Guadeloupe.

Staged in association with Pulse's French Caribbean affiliates, Strategies Caraibes and main sponsor Black Opal, the inaugural event drew a capacity audience to the hip La Kassa amphitheatre in the French isle's capital, Point a Pitre.

After an islandwide search which saw hundreds applying, only 10 coveted spots were up for grabs in the highly competitive contest.

A difficult choice

The finalists strutted their stuff and from the first appearance it was clear that it would have been a difficult task for the judges to choose a winner. Nonetheless, the judges narrowed it down to 10: Audrey Gaspar, Priscilla Flacou, Melissa Kellaou, Arnica Ponponne, Elodie Bourgeois, Farida Lecoin, Maite Baptiste, Mael Joyau, Yolaine Nassif and Olivia Mekel.

The evening was as much about exciting fashion as it was about searching for the hottest new faces in modelling. Hip young Guadeloupean designer, Djamena Caprice, showed just why she was selected to make her debut at the upcoming Caribbean Fashionweek (CFW) in Kingston, June 11-16. She sent the models down the runway in looks that was a mix of classic urban chic and indigenous elegance.

Coming out on top

The fashion show made way for the announcement of the top-five finalists. Among them were crowd favourites Farida Lecoin, Maite Baptiste and Melissa Kellaou. But, the night belonged to Olivia Mekel, who won the title and an all-expense trip to Kingston to participate in CFW 2008.

"I am very excited about this opportunity and I want to do very well," said the heavily accented teenager. The depth of talent saw the judges, headed by Pulse General Manager Romae Gordon, elect to send a second finalist to CFW. Audience participation was welcomed and Farida Lecoin got the nod. She, too, will be travelling to Jamaica to make her first appearance on Caribbean Fashionweek.