The fashion world was abuzz and clamoured for the Jamaican girl with the 'special look' and the radiant smile. - Contributed

The opportunities seemed endless to the young Hampton student as she listened to the deep, bass voice listing all the possibilities in modelling. Lois Samuels listened to Pulse's CEO Kingsley Cooper, and immediately identified modelling as an avenue that she wanted to explore. In 1991, she journeyed to Kingston to enter Pulse's Jamaica Fashion Model Competition.

Although she placed fourth, Cooper saw great potential in the St. Elizabeth beauty. After the competition, Pulse's next step was to take Lois to Europe and New York to launch her career in international modelling. Initially, she experienced some difficulty in securing an agency but she was not deterred. Her commitment to her career soon yielded success with Beth-Ann Manage-ment in 1992. Later that year, Lois became fashion's new 'it' girl. Her big break came when she was selected for the print campaign of Calvin Klein 'CK One'. Lois' face was everywhere: on buses, subway displays, department stores and all the major fashion magazines around the world.

Lois' stature in the industry grew significantly as she dominated multiple editorials and covers for leading fashion magazines. Her industry ranking became second to none in the early '90s when she became the first Caribbean national to score the cover of Vogue, the fashion industry's bible. That success paved the way for other stars to emerge from Jamaica, particularly when the world's fashion capitals gave up their predominantly Euro-centric focus and began embracing dark-skinned models. Lois was often compared to model/actress Grace Jones.

Samuels was the first Caribbean model to be selected for the couture collections in Paris. In February 1995, Britain's Cosmopolitan magazine heralded Lois as one of the top six new supermodels in the world. Lois also worked with leading designers including Lauren, Jacobs, Miyake Galliano Dior and others. She appeared in the first ever VH1 Supermodel Awards and was a main fixture on the main collections of Paris, New York, Milan, London and Tokyo.

Covers

Her covers include: German Vogue, Essence and Pride, and numerous appearances in Mademoiselle, Elle, Marie Claire, the New York Times Fashion Magazine. In 1999 she published her first book A Glow in the Dark and began to paint as well.

The following October she wed British investment banker, Mark Inglewood, and a year later gave birth to son Malo. In 2004, she released her second book; Jamaica Through My Eyes. The book showcases Lois' skills behind the camera as she documents the beauty and soul of Jamaican people.

Her illustrious career documents her life every step of the way as a daughter, doting wife, mother, author and photographer as well as one of Pulse's original supermodels.