Jaunel looks forward to busy Christmas

It's a Cosmo Christmas for Pulse's Jaunel McKenzie. As the festive season gets into full gear, the Pulse model is perfectly in sync with the spirit of the season as she dances and dazzles in the latest copy of American Cosmopolitan magazine.

One of five current, major assignments, the eight-page editorial of the December instalment of the glossy is on news-stands now.

McKenzie has consistently made a habit of finishing the year at full throttle since she hit the major pages and runways of international modelling. There is the bold Jamaican gig, which she flew into the island for just this past weekend and after the wrap of the shoot, she was back to her work base in New York City to appear just in time for the Christmas retail tour de force, Macy's. Before that McKenzie was busy with high-end outfitters White House/Black Market, transited to London en route to Timbuktu for more editorial work; and now there are also duties in Morocco for one of Britian's top magazines, as well as the option for a huge cosmetic campaign which is to be shot in Asia early in 2011.

Since the beginning of her career with a win in Pulse's Caribbean Model Search, McKenzie has remained a formidable presence in world modelling. She continues to produce great work, and her natural intelligence for interpreting correctly what the major brands and designers expect from her has worked significantly in her favour.

The pictures she creates tell a great story.

Professional approach

A highly professional approach is naturally one of several characteristics which does not go unnoticed by industry movers and shakers.

One editor at Vogue's online edition notes that McKenzie is "elegant and sophisticated with a warm manner; and on top of that, she is the consummate professional, that is a refreshing combination in fashion today," said Laird Borelli.

The body of work McKenzie has produced speaks to her dominance in the business of fashion and beauty. She has starred in campaigns for Tommy Hilfiger, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Macy's, The Gap (twice), Banana Republic, Bennetton, H&M and Addidas, shot by the consummate fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld. Her magazine cover credits include - W, French, L'Officiel and the New York Times Magazine.

The model has racked up the most important editorials in the business including multiple spreads for Vogue, 13 of which were shot for American Vogue and one each for the German, French and Italian editions, several publications of Elle, W, V, Vibe, Suede, Allure, Jane, Deustch, Harper's & Queen, GQ, i-D and the Face.

McKenzie has also worked for the most sought after catalogue in fashion - Victoria's Secret.

Runway mileage

Her image has also been captured by some of the most celebrated photographers in the world, Gilles Bensimon, Steven Klein, Bruce Webber and Mario Testino, among them.

She worked the exclusive couture shows in Paris and has piled up runway mileage for Anne Klein, Kenneth Cole, Miguel Androver, Catherine Malandrino, Venexiana by Kati Stern, Tess Giberson, Derek Lam, Tuleh, Monique L'huiller, Cynthia Steffe, Chaiken, Heatherette, Peter Som, Vivienne Tam, Marni, Akris, Celine Baby Phat, Emmanuel Ungaro, Dolce & Gabana, Gucci, Yves St Laurent, Lanvin, Louis Vuitton, Nina Ricci, Stella McCartney, Pierre Balmain, La Perla, Just Cavalli, Bottega Venetta, Marni, D&G, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander Mc Queen, Zac Posen and numerous others.

McKenzie has taken and maintained top honours in world modelling over the past few years. She was declared the number one black model in the world (Models.com) and was inducted into fashion immortality by Ebony Magazine in 2008, after it named her one of the most successful black models of all time.