Pulse model Angela Neil - Contributed photos

With a captivating old world charm that is disarming, Pulse Supermodel Angela Neil remained at the top of her game for many years.

Cemented in fashion history as one of the Caribbean's top models, Neil, a former Guest Relations Coordinator at Sandals Montego Bay, probably would have veered a different path if she weren't persuaded 'to try her face' at fashion. She won the 1988 Jamaica Fashion Model Pageant.

Spending the first six months of her career in Europe, Neil entered the highly competitive New York market in style by landing two separate editorial assignments with Elle magazine and Vogue, all within her first month - a rare feat.

Fashion fast track

Signed to Click Models NY, Neil was on a fashion fast track and soon packed up her suitcases and headed for an assignment in the Middle East state, Oman. While the distance and 'culture shock' turned out to be overwhelming for some of the international girls, a born socialite, Neil embraced the experience of being around 'different people' with open arms.

"The thing with Jamaicans is that we take pride in our multicultural-ism and diversity," she said. I had no problems whatsoever living among different races and cultures. I spent my time enjoying the experience rather than being threatened by it."

Runway shows

After returning from an extensive stay in Oman and Thailand, she returned to New York where she graced several runway shows, editorials and campaigns including Nike and Duro Soft Lens.

Striking gold with her second Elle editorial shot by noted fashion photographer Giles Bensimon, she headed to England for the September leg of the London Fashion Week Collections.

Neil: "You had some clients that would call and request only to work with you again because they loved what you did for their last campaign. Clients such as Hanes, Champion clothing and Ebony Spiegel were some of my regulars and I was so happy and grateful that they requested to work with me time and time again."

Popping up in editorial features, advertising and catalogues including Carol Reid, Butterick and Avon with inspiring regularity, Neil a charted her successful career to her Caribbean background.

"It was because of my own heritage and upbringing why I was very comfortable in my own skin and being a Jamaican, I think that the desire to be the best at what we do is ingrained in us, in all Caribbean nationals as a matter of fact," she explained. "Caribbean people are always so focused on making the best of available opportunities and achieving what they set out to do that we always get what we want in the end."

Degree

Retired from active modelling, Neil holds a degree in psychology, is the mother of two daughters and resides in the United States. She has worked at several U.S. fashion shows as well as dabbled a bit in cosmetology having R&B superstar Mary J. Blige as part of her clientele.

Scheduled to make a special guest appearance at the The Gleaner-sponsored Caribbean Model Search(CMS) Final Show themed 'Supermodel Reunion' on September 7 at the Hilton Kingston, Angela will once again heat up the runway and seek to relay her experiences to the 2007 CMS hopefuls.