Alicia Roache, Staff Reporter
Winners in the Saint International and CVM Faces of Summer Finals, Jermaine Maragh and Rochelle Osbourne pose after the announcement. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
THE HALLMARK of a well produced show lies not just in concept, but in execution. The concept and the execution were on par at the finals of the CVM Faces of Summer model search held at the Coutleigh Auditorium (formerly Island Life building) on Saturday.
The usual, lights, cameras and action were there. But a dramatic opening act which was inspired by the fencing scene from Die Another Day could have easily overshadowed the real reason for being there.
The scene, which featured the 21 male face contestants all decked in white against a white background mimicking a swordfight, was part of a larger theme of entertainment related features that ran throughout the four hour show.
FEMALE FINALISTS
During the introduction of the female finalists, which was dubbed 'Diamonds are Forever', Kanye West's music video from which the title of the segment was derived was generated on twin screens above the platform. The video, which was interrupted with the photo profile of each of the 23 female finalists, brought back memories of the time, not long ago, when the auditorium was Island Cinema.
And during the intermission, the same screens offered a sometimes hilarious look into the selection process for the finalists in the competition.
Before the announcement of the top five finalists in each category, Neeka Rose performed a medly that included Christina Aquilera's Beautiful, and after, Krystal Porter Jackson performed Celine Dion's If Walls Could Talk.
FASHIONABLE OUTFITS
But at all times the audience was reminded of the reason for their attendance. The judges, Carlos Ojeda of Ford models, Wayne Sterling, editorial director of Models.com, and Khalid Munroe, New Faces director of Karin Models were introduced. The successes of Saint models, Canise Jackson, Yasmin Johnson, Sasha-Gaye Hunt and others were also celebrated, and the finalists made appearances on stage in designs from Yola Grey, RDH, Yolande Bennette, Terry Nicholson, Ray Lindo, Shemdeeke, Shaniel Francis, Lizzy, Les Campbell, Minka, and 3D by Dexter Pottinger. Heart and Sole, Elan, and Go West also contributed fashionable outfits for the occasion, as did celebrity stylist Tyron Mayes.
At the end of the night, however, Sean Thaxter and Jotash Turnbull had to concede their titles to the 2005 winners Jermaine Maragh, 19 and Rochelle Osbourne, 16, both finalists from Kingston.
