Model search puts talent on show

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

It will be 'raining' beauty at Pulse's Caribbean Model Search (CMS) 2010, on Sunday. And, what a rich history surrounds this event.

Pulse continues its long tradition of excellence with its 30-year-old flagship model and talent discovery showcase. This competition makes dreams come true and transforms lives. The event is the undisputed source of the great tradition of Jamaican and Caribbean modelling talent, and it was Kingsley Cooper's vision that revolutionised the way we look at our Jamaican women. His belief in our people's talent, and potential has remained strong and steadfast since he gave up his law practice to begin what is now an institution in entertainment.

Pulse's alumni of supermodels make for impressive reading, including Denise Solely back in 1983 followed by Althea Lang, who became the first model from the Caribbean to grace the cover of Essence magazine. Her success was followed by Kimberly Mais, Julienne Samuel's, Angela Neil, Lois Samuels and Nikki Vassel who all went on to make their mark in international fashion.

New grounds

These stars of the '80s and '90s had early success all across the globe and broke new ground for Jamaica and the Caribbean. In the early stages of her career, Mais remained at the apex of the modelling industry in Japan and virtually 'cleaned up,' scoring the top jobs and campaigns. Her Kirin beer campaign was a massive success, which catapulted her to nation-wide notoriety in the world's second largest economy. So much so that in one year, she was the cover of every edition of Japan's top fashion magazine at the time, Vintang. She would go on to successful stints in Europe and America before returning home.

Lois Samuels broke major barriers for black models and scored successes on both sides of the Atlantic. Her Calvin Klein campaign catapulted her to fame in the industry, and she went on to make history by being shot by fellow Jamaican Walter Chin for the cover of Vogue.

All the other stars have continued the premier performance, and Pulse is no doubt, the place that the fashion capitals of the world look to for their next Caribbean model for the international market. This has been the mode of Conde Nast, which has seen Pulse finds playing major roles on its covers and in editorial campaigns. From Allure to Vogue, the CMS winners and contenders have graced scores of editions of the world's major fashion publications. For Vogue alone, the list of Pulse's stars is simply astounding including male talent like Lincoln Wynter and Oraine Barrett.

International catwalks

The local pioneers have continued to answer the call from the world's major model agencies in New York, London, Paris and Milan. With the phenomenal success of Jaunel McKenzie, Nadine Willis, Carla Campbell, Nell Robinson, Sunna Gottshalk among others, this year's find will also be aching to hit the international catwalks and set the world ablaze just as relative newcomers, Sedene Blake and Jeneil Williams, have been doing. They have so far scored with Italian Vogue, i-D, LOVE and the must-read financial press, the Wall Street Journal!

Come Sunday, new stars will emerge from the new batch of hopefuls, and to make things lively and exciting, the company has enlisted rhythm and blues singer Shontelle whose hits include T-Shirt, Impossible and her new single Perfect Nightmare, for the event.

Miss Jamaica Universe, the vivacious Yendi Phillipps, will grace the Jamaican catwalk in a guest appearance for the first time, since her own history-making second place win at the 2010 Miss Universe contest in Las Vegas, Nevada. Phillipps is also a former Miss Jamaica World winner.

Pulse CMS promises to be all that with another crowning glory!