Jaunel McKenzie

The region's biggest and most famous model event, the Caribbean Model Search (CMS), has gone to ne this year. Staged by Pulse annually since 1982, the search went Caribbean-wide in 2002, when supermodels Jaunel McKenzie and Nell Robinson emerged as winners. Sine then, 11-time American Vogue model, McKenzie has gone on to become the number one black supermodel in the world and Robinson became an ARENA covergirl as well as a GQ, Vogue and Victoria's Secret model.

The most impressive to date, the search extends its reach to London, Canada, the United States and a number of new Caribbean territories. The competition is structured on two tiers: a television series as well as a live show which is scheduled for September 2 at the Hilton Kingston hotel. This approach gives more persons the opportunity to be discovered and developed.

Large following

The hip fashion reality television series which drew a large following last year will be back for it's second season in 2007; bringing all the exciting elements of the competition to 12 Caribbean countries plus the United Kingdom, theU.S. and Canada. After the scouting process is completed in Jamaica, 20-30 finalists will be selected and the field will be narrowed to 12 contestants who will compete for the TV show title. The remaining contestants discovered will compete for the live show titles: Jamaica Fashion Model, Petite Jamaica Fashion Model and Male Face of Jamaica. Similar searches will also be conducted in the participating islands.

The CMS has become the largest and most dynamic talent search in the history of the Caribbean, as a whole. Historically this event, appeals to thousands of young people regionally who aspire to be models. Their ambition has been fuelled and inspired by the success of Pulse stars such as Carla Campbell, Nadine Willis, Kimanee Wilson, Oraine Barrett and Jeneil Williams, who have taken the international modelling industry by storm.

First black model

Campbell is a Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue model, Cosmo star and Esquire covergirl; Nadine Willis was the first black model to lead a Gucci campaign, a Vogue model who appeared in every edition except the U.S. and who is regarded as the fastest-rising supermodel in history; Kimanee Wilson, a multifaceted talent, is a Luire covergirl who has done many of the major campaigns, editorials and shows; Oraine Barrett, a favourite of Target, Ralph Lauren and Abercombie & Fitch for their advertising campaigns, is currently shooting a spread for Italian Vogue and Jeneil Williams recently graced the cover SHE Caribbean and is to be featured in a spread for Trace magazine.

Scouting the island

Pulse scouts held auditions in Margaritaville, Ocho Rios; Pier 1 Montego Bay; Jake's, St. Elizabeth and the recently concluded Red Stripe Temptation Isle independence party weekend in Negril. Last Saturday, the final selection was made for the CMS reality television show which premiers its new season on CVM TV, Saturday.

However, there is still time. Young hopefuls can visitPulse's headquarters at 38a Trafalgar Road in New Kingston where auditions are held on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m.

The CMS hotline is: 876-960-0049 or email info@pulsecaribbean.com.The 2007 CMS partners are The Gleaner, bmobile, Homestyle Juices, Ting, Dark & Lovely, Hilton, 'SHE' Caribbean, Splashjamaica, Ocean Style, Zip FM and CVM TV.

Nell - Contributed