Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter
Left: Avant-Garde piece by Dexter Pottinger. Right: Terry Nicholson's Avant-Garde piece.
THERE WASN'T an empty chair in the Grand Ballroom of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Sunday at the Saint International Fashion Face of the Caribbean and Avant-Garde fashion awards. Throngs of supporters came out to see which Jamaican face would soon grace the covers of international magazines.
The glitz and glamour of the international catwalk beckoned to the over 45 hopefuls to be the next best thing out of Jamaica. The show began with a performance by Caesar and highlights of Saint International's successes. There were highlights of Ariane Coleman, who for a first timer booked an amazing six shows at the recently concluded New York Fashion Week. The show highlighted the success of Marlando, Dayne, Sigail, Kibwe and Kanhai who will be appearing in the international soap opera Generations.
POISE AND ATTITUDE
The 20 female contestants walked the catwalk in swimwear by Appleton and the Heart and Sole Ella Moss and the Theory Collection. The male contestants, who outnumbered the females, held their own in working the runway with poise and attitude.
Seventeen-year-old Kareen Taylor was beside herself with joy when she was announced 2006 Female Fashion Face of the Caribbean. Stomping her feet, she took her position at the top of the catwalk with tears in her eyes. Her reaction, however, paled in comparison to her mother's who was shouting and jumping, while still clutching Kareen's sleeping baby sister. Runners-up were Crystal Slowley and Venecia Bennett.
The announcement of the male winner, Robert Taylor was greeted with thunderous applause by the females present. He had them screaming even louder when he bared his shirt throwing it to some lucky lady in the audience. Runners-up were Richard Fuller and Horace Anderson.
AVANT-GARDE
Eleven Jamaican fashion designers, including two newcomers, vied to stitch themselves in history for the Appleton Avant-Garde Fashion awards. The designers portrayed the true spirit of Appleton Genesis.
The newcomers, 17-year-old Schneil Francis and Prime Minister youth awardee Terry Nicholson, held their own among the veterans in creativity and portrayal of the Appleton spirit. In the end, the award went to veteran Carlon Brown.
Brown's piece was very dramatic in the model's entrance with his face obscured by his hair. After a slight trip down the runway, he brought the design alive with an energising pose.
After the competition on Sunday, Robert Taylor, Kareen Taylor, Venecia Bennett, Crystal Slowly and Richard Fuller were offered contracts by New York-based Vison Model Management.
