Shelly Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer
Pulse model Kimanee Wilson
PULSE SUPERMODEL and Trace cover girl, Kimanee Wilson has once more secured a major campaign for international designer Ralph Lauren. Kimanee, who flew in to Jamaica for the holidays after completing the shoot in Miami, Florida will be the face of the new Chaps line to be launched in the first quarter of this year.
However, the glitz and fame of the fashion world have not overwhelmed the 21-year-old. A professional at her work, she remains calm and grounded by doing crossword puzzles.
Kimanee grew up in Petersfield, Westmoreland with her mother, Judith Lambert, now a real estate agent in New York, and her father, Randall Wilson, a sugarcane farmer. The model bug didn't bite the former Manning's High School student until she moved to New York after graduation.
Being in the Big Apple, Kimanee heard of an open call for models by Elite Model Agency based in the city. She went, and the next day at 17 years old, she was being photographed for Teen Vogue. "It was a great feeling," said Kimanee.
But that was then, today she is signed to Marilyn Agency in New York, and after appearing at Caribbean Fashion Week, June 2005 she also inked a deal in July with Pulse International for representation in Jamaica.
TRACK RECORD
No stranger to major campaigns, Kimanee has done work for Levi Jeans, Aveda, Target and cosmetics market leaders Sephora and Avon. Her editorial record is also extensive with spreads and covers for Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Allure, Essence L'Officiel, Vibe and numerous others. In addition, she has done major mileage for more than 40 international designers such as, Ralph Lauren, Carolina Herrera, Perry Ellis, Richard Tyler, Bill Blass, Robert Cavalli, Chloe, Missoni, Gianfranco Ferre and the Caribbean's best known fashion icon, world renowned Oscar de la Renta.
Kimanee also had a hectic schedule of bookings leading up to the Christmas holidays. Included among her assignments were a shoot for the book of major retail giants Neiman Marcus, editorials for Essence and Red magazines and she also appeared on The Oprah Show and ABC's Jimmy Kimel live for the launch of Beyonce's clothing line.
Since gaining experience over the four years of modelling she has matured. The saner side of the modelling industry has not limited her. "If you are not a party girl (I'm not), it doesn't affect you. After work I go home, I don't like to watch television so I'll go to the beach, or do crossword puzzles," she said.
And how about rich men who are usually drawn to models like moths to a flame? Kimanee said they do not bother her. "I don't get to meet many of them because I don't go out a lot."
Plus, she knows that as a black Jamaican woman she is lucky to be an international model. "When I started there were not so many Jamaicans in New York or anywhere else, there were perhaps about two girls who I met. Now there are more Jamaicans on the scene and that's good. But now I try not to think about the negatives. It's a job."
JEWELLERY DESIGNER
Instead of partying, she concentrates her time on jewellery design. All her pieces are handmade, since she started the craft in August 2005. The designs labelled, KiKi, can be found in stores in Kingston, Negril, Westmoreland and Montego Bay, St. James.
"I make very good, fresh, young, pretty, really pretty pieces with bright colours - contrasting beads of glass and wood. I'm very proud about them." For her jeweller, she draws her inspirations from the many designers she has worked with such as Roberto Cavalli and Christian Dior. The response to the jewellery has been very encouraging, and now she is focusing on a website for the designs.
During this week with trips between New York, Jamaica and later this month Paris, Kimanee hopes that higher goals will be achieved for 2006. "For this year, I'm trying to get the website going, get fresh ideas for my jewellery and just hope it will be a prosperous year for me. Whatever happens this year it's just icing on the cake."
