Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

What started as a fairy-tale career has led supermodel Jaunel McKenzie to being named by Ebony magazine as one of the most successful black models of all time.

In 2002 when Jaunel McKenzie stepped on to the Pulse runway, the then 16-year-old had never aspired to be a model; still, she walked out the confident winner of the first ever Caribbean Model Search. She has since modelled for the likes of Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdales, Giorgio Armani, Kenneth Cole, Neiman-Marcus, Next, Pepe Jeans, Oscar de La Renta, Saks and Victoria's Secret.

McKenzie created history in New York when she became the first Jamaican local-based model to shoot American Vogue and has done campaigns for Tommy Hilfiger, The Gap. With runway walks for YSL and Gucci, this young star is shining.

Whereas once McKenzie would test the waters by doing numerous runway shows, now she has the time and clout to be more selective. In a telephone interview with The Sunday Gleaner McKenzie said, "I can definitely be more selective of the runway jobs now then when I first started. It's the standard to do runway because you get a lot of exposure and get known in certain circuits. I've done six years of all show seasons, so I can select what I want. Now, I tend to do high-end designers or new trendy ones."

the biggest names

Some of the designers McKenzie favours are Oscar De La Renta, Micheal Kors, Peter Som and Richard Chai. McKenzie chose to take a break from numerous shows during New York's Fashion Week, only heading the superstar line-up at Fashion Rocks, presented by Vogue magazine. Fashion Rocks, the stellar highlight of New York Fashion Week, features the biggest names in fashion, music and modelling.

Held in early September, Fashion Rocks was staged at New York's famed Radio City Music Hall and featured a brilliant array of superstars, including Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, One Republic, Timberland, Mary J Blige, LL Kool J and Tyra Banks. Vogue's choices for the runway included Alexander McQueen, WSL, Jenny Scott, Gucci and Oscar de la Renta. McKenzie was chosen to lead the supermodel line-up, which included the likes of Jessica Samm, Katherine McNeil and Freija.

of all time

This goes to show McKenzie's star status on modelling circuits and it was no surprise that in September's edition of Ebony magazine, in a story called 'Black Out - What Has Happened To The Black Models', McKenzie was named one of the top black models of all time. In the article, which discussed the black supermodels of the past while bemoaning the current paucity of black models being featured in the industry, it stated: "Today comparative careers are fewer than bacon bits in collard greens. It's a very shortlist - Liya Kebede, Jaunel McKenzie, Chanel Iman and newcomer Jourdan Dunn."

Black supermodels named by Ebony on its unofficial all-time list included Pulse's Lois Samuels, Iman, Naomi Campbell, Gail O'Neil, Roshumba, Tyra Banks, Tyson Beckford, Veronica Webb, Pat Cleveland, Sheila Johnson, Mounia, Billie Blair, Karen Alexander, Brandy, Beverley Johnson and Naomi Simms.

McKenzie told The Sunday Gleaner that she is extremely honoured to be named a top black model. McKenzie doesn't believe, however, that there is a shortage of good black models on the international scene. "There is not a shortage on the international scene but on the runway. They are there, but they are not getting the career-boosting hot jobs ... There are a lot of reasons that figure into it. I'm not sure why, though, because they are all skinny, beautiful, but I guess they are just not what they are going for," she said.

right time

According to McKenzie, she came into the business at the right time, especially since she became a favourite of Vogue editor Anna Wyntour. For McKenzie, becoming a successful black model depends in part on the way you carry yourself, how you dress, one's hygiene and the right, positive personality. This model certainly has the right attitude, as she believes the sky is the limit. And, not wanting to put limits on her career, McKenzie will continue doing the best she can in the modelling industry.

While she's busy modelling, McKenzie is also taking the time out to continue exploring the real estate field and she is also taking acting classes. Urged on by Romae Gordon and Kingsley Cooper of Pulse, McKenzie is looking to getting into acting. "I never wanted to be a model and now I'm one of the most successful black models, so we'll see where this acting thing can go," she said. The aspiring actress loves comedies, action and especially romance movies.

Jaunel McKenzie poses in a design from Ashakai at Pulse's Caribbean Fashionweek, held at the National Indoor Sports Centre, Independence Park, earlier this year. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer