St. Georges, Grenada - Grenada has everything to be proud of as it relates to fashion as Kishawn Thomas for the second time for this year won another illustrious title, ‘The Face of Caribbean Fashion Competition.
Shereen Davis from Jamaica won the female aspect of the competition.
The competition was produced by Imperial Fashion Production in New York and was held for the first time where all the participating models (male and female) had a total of six photographs adjudicated.
The photo request was segmented into two main categories for judging…it included promotional or commercial shots and adventure. The judge’s criteria included poise, eye contact, comfort, fashion presence and personality.
The competition commenced on August 1st and ended on August 24th and participants from around the region were invited to register to enter the competition by submitting six photographs of themselves (three original and three edited) model/photo shoot type.
Over 100 models participated in the competition and according to Director Charlene White the turn out could have been better.
“We are a brand new modeling company with Caribbean oriented workers and with limited resources we decided to put on this competition just to get an insight as to what the Caribbean has to offer with regards to fashion and models”.
Ms. White said the process in getting models to submit photos was “quiet a tedious one”. She noted that a number of Caribbean agencies and models were contacted to be part of the competition which at the end saw a male and female winner.
“The response was overwhelming in some quotas, but as we develop our data base during the next few months for next year’s competition we expect more models to register”, she said.
Ms. White, a Jamaican national who traveled extensively to a number of the Caribbean countries says it is evident that “the region has a flair for fashion but what is lacking most is the opportunity for one to express themselves and what we would endeavour to do here at Imperial is to help break the ice”.
The 2009 winners according to Ms. White would both receive a cash prize, an all expense paid trip to Jamaica and a modeling contract with Imperial Fashion Company for one year. The female winner will also receive a one year supply of cosmetics compliments Revlon, while the male winner would receive a one month voucher for designer clothing and accessories from Dolce & Gabbana.
They will both select a fashion designer of their choice to work with one year.
Imperial Fashion Company will also undertake a photo shoot with both winners commencing during the month of September.
The models will also be engaged in a number of Caribbean promotional activities in the country in which they reside and are tasked to work with a charitable institution of their choice.
“We have noticed the trend in our male youths today and we decided from this competition to place much emphasis on the males, therefore we would be doing a lot work with our Grenadian male winner with respect to positive anti-drug and violence campaigns by using his fashion image”.
Kishawn Thomas who is currently residing on the island of Nevis in 2008 won the first ever Mr. Renaissance Man International and in June 2009 captured the Mr. Caribbean Top Model competition in the BVI. He also modeled for a number of regional and international designers.
“Kishawn’s pictures were just great; he had the majority of what the judges we looking for in a model. He is a pure example of showing other male models that you don’t have to be muscular in order to win a competition; we see him doing well in the future and wish him all the best”, said Ms. White.
“I have had the chance of working with him in the past and he is a great young man, very intelligent and is always self motivated”.
Ms. White said as her company intends to develop a strong relationship with the region and the first major assignment would be that of Caribbean model search in 2010 followed by a search for agencies as to assist them in creating more fashion oriented events.
Grenada News