File photos
From left, Kimberley Mais, Althea Laing and Romae Gordon.

In the world of Manolos, mascara and Marc Jacobs, a cadre of models from the Caribbean has made impressive strides into fashion's history books by achieving a series of firsts while striking fierce poses in front of cameras and on international catwalks.

Kimberley Mais Laing, Angela Neil, Jheanell Azan, Justine Willoughby, Lois Samuels, Romae Gordon, Juline Samuels and Lincoln Wynter are faces synonymous with fashion's glamour and style of the modern modelling movement in the region.

They are carriers of the flame and creators of the platform on which today's generation of Caribbean supermodels now stand. Fresh-faced, bold and distinctive as they explored the relatively novel world of modelling and high fashion, these powerhouses intuitively worked at standing apart from their competition.

Top-notch photographs

Yielding top-notch photographs, the locally produced savants paved the way for all who dared to follow. Before Nadine, Jaunel, Nell, Carla, and Oraine there existed 'the echelon', attained by only 'this faction'. Caribbean treasures and the 'original' Pulse supermodels, they were the first to strut their stuff on the world stage.

Come September 2, these stars of yesterday will again burn bright at the Hilton Kingston hotel at the finals of the Caribbean Model Search (CMS) competition, as most, if not all of them, come together from various parts of the world in a 'Supermodel Reunion'.

This year's Caribbean Model Search sees for the very first time the assembly of these leading premier talents who personify the strength, tenacity and evolution of the Caribbean fashion industry.

Success

Laing, Gordon, Mais and Lois Samuels have the distinction of being the first - and in some cases the only - Jamaican models to achieve a certain level of success in selective markets. Regarded as Jamaica's and the wider Caribbean's first supermode Laing launched her career in the mid-1980s and became the first Caribbean national to grace the cover of a major international magazine (ESSENCE, September 1986, and ESSENCE, 1990).

Known for her commanding presence on the runway, Laing was the star of numerous fashion shows. She did additional covers for Ebony, Black Elegance, Caribbean Lifestyle, Chic Magazine and other ESSENCE editorials, and was inducted into the Pulse Fashion & Beauty Hall of Fame in 1995.

Discovered at 14 years old while a student at Hampton High School, St. Elizabeth, Lois Samuels never envisioned that her face would become one of the most photographed in the world.

Created history

Mais created history when she was selected from over 1,000 local and international models to be the campaign model for Japan's Kirin beer. She now anchors Pulse's Caribbean Fashion Week TV.

Modelling a record total of over 15 years Angela Neil, the gorgeous 1988 Jamaica Fashion Model winner, did duties for Elle and Vogue and gave Jamaica's its first Cosmopolitan cover after just one month on the market. Formerly a guest relations coordinator at a hotel in Montego Bay, the 1990 Pulse Fashion and Beauty Hall of Famer has done numerous editorials, runway and catalogues, including Hanes and Avon.

Another fashion model winner who created waves in the British market was Romae Gordon. Signed to the then Elite Premier, Gordon placed second from a field of 16,000 in the Elite Model Look competition a mere month after her arrival in London. She later went on to do editorials and catalogues for a number of clients, including Cosmopolitan and Littlewoods.

Gordon was the first Pulse model to achieve stellar success in the South Africa market, where she featured in every major magazine, campaigns and runways in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

The portfolios of Jamaican-born international models Lincoln Wynter, Juline Samuels, and Justine Willoughby have buoyed and certainly influenced the careers of CMS aspirants. Lincoln became the first Jamaican international male modelling star, copping campaigns for the famed Gucci brand.

His acting talent has landed him in multiple commercial roles as well as several feature films, including The Devil Wears Prada.

Justine Willoughby, during her stint with Wilhelmina, was a staple in all areas of modelling. She starred in campaigns for L'Oreal's Frizz Ease and did duties for Marie Claire.

Juline Samuels was first Pulse model to be selected personally by Kathy Ford to join her renowned Ford agency in New York.