Kavelle Anglin-Christie, Staff Reporter
Robert Taylor, winner of Saint International's Male Fashion Face of the Caribbean Award. Taylor won a contract with Image Agency, New York. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
Mr. (Dewight) Peters told me, not asked me, to lose 40 pounds. I went and lost it in two months.
ROBERT TAYLOR'S difficult beginnings did not show signs of him becoming a top model.
Taylor, 21, is this year's male winner of Saint International's Fashion Face of the Caribbean. He was born in Brandon Hill, St. Andrew, but at just over a year old, his mother took him to the SOS Children's Village.
"She couldn't afford to take care of us anymore ... But I went home on holidays," said Taylor.
Taylor has two brothers and sisters, but his biggest influence is his older sister. "We grew up there (SOS) together, so she was my support system," he says.
"The experience wasn't all that great, but I wanted the best for myself. I met a lot of friends and I grew up around people like myself who didn't know their parents any at all, but I kept my head above the water," he said.
Taylor says holding on to his dream of becoming a model kept him afloat. Six years ago, floating simply wasn't enough anymore.
"I was a student at Dunoon Technical at the time and going around to various agencies in Kingston trying to get signed. I was being turned down all the while and they were saying that I'm too tall," he said.
Though often discouraged, he stayed focused, because he saw modelling as his only way out.
GOING BACK TO HIS ROOTS
He stayed true to his word and marched into Saint International's offices one day."I was still tall and a bit bulky at 220 pounds and Mr. (Dewight) Peters told me, not asked me, to lose 40 pounds. I went and lost it in two months. I came back and came in the top five of the CVM Faces of Summer," Taylor said.
Since winning the competition he has visited the SOS home. "I went (last) Tuesday and spoke to everyone, including the house mother, Auntie Mary, and the other house mothers who played a part in growing me," he said.
Taylor says he stays in shape by working out and drinking a lot of water. "I also do a lot of sprints and sit-ups. I was told by Mr. Peters not to lift any more weights, because I would get back bulky," he said.
"I like playing basketball, singing and reading the paper," he said.
He left the island on Wednesday to attend Barbados Fashion Week, but that's not all he has on his plate.
"I want to do the Abercrombie and Fitch campaign as well as the Ralph Lauren and Dolce and Gabbana ... I plan to be the top male model in the next five to 10 years," Taylor said.
