Nikki Vassel - Contributed
As if tailor-made to walk the runway, the unassuming, bright-eyed 12-year-old girl was obviously destined for supermodel stardom. Encouraged by her mother Genevieve to participate in a charity fashion show put on by Jamaican designer, Elaine Witter (Layne's), she went along with the flow, mostly to appease her mother and to playfully brag to her girls that she had participated in a real fashion show. It was then that Nicola Vassell begun to strut and pose her way into the glamorous world of fashion.
Fast forward a year later, when Nicola is spotted by Pulse's CEO Kingsley Cooper at the movies. The 13-year-old, first-form Campion College student, and the Vassell family, are told that she had model qualities. While undoubtedly pleased to hear of Nicola's potential, her parents, Clive and Genevieve, advised that her education, above all things, would have to be priority. The years flew by and Nicola, aka Nikki, a whiz at school, captured eight CXC passes and soon turns her attention, once again, to the world of fashion.
In 1994, Nikki signed up for Pulse's Fashion Model Competition and walked away with top honours. Immediately after her win, the promising Caribbean jewel became the first model from the region to be signed to an international agency by Pulse, without even leaving Jamaica's shores. She was placed with L'Agence in Miami and was personally directed and advised by owner Nadia Sharik, who had been a judge at that year's model search.
'Model magic'
In New York, Nikki was determined to make 'model magic'. On her second visit, having been signed to Click, she started to reap success. The Jamaican beauty had settled and embraced the realities of the model line of work. Her versatility was definitely a fantastic asset to advance her modelling career. She moved effortlessly from beauty jobs to the super sexy and was equally at ease in major campaigns and edgy editorial roles. She landed Guess Jeans as her first campaign and her agency soon had a 'Grace Jones reincarnate'.
Several Armani Exchange, Avon, Kenneth Cole, Gap, Pantene shampoo, Cover Girl campaigns as well as American Cosmopolitian, Honey, O magazine, Glamour, Jane, Italian and German Vogue editorials later, Nikki Vassell earned the reputation of a 'highly potent fashion force'.
Nikki's extensive client list includes Ann Taylor, Pepe Jeans, Saks Fifth Avenue, Polo Jeans and Aveda. Her magnificent success in the fashion business, however, has rendered great lessons about the industry. "The world of fashion is all about business and as such, is to be treated that way. All models want to make it to the top but the truth is, not all will. You won't always get 'that' job, so it's important that you build a defence mechanism because rejection happens daily."
Fine arts
Nikki has not only created a stir in fashion circles but in fine arts as well. She enrolled in a liberal arts degree programme in Manhattan and after her first semester, had an amazing 4.0 grade point average. She began working in the art world after completing her degree and is currently, the director at Deitch Gallery located in SoHo, Manhattan.
"There is so much fluidity. You get to learn everything," gushes Nikki about her job as Dietch Director. This spring, she organised her own exhibition project, titled, 'Powers of 10: Successive Orders of Formal and Psychological Magnitude'. She also coordinated the gallery's recent Francesco Clemente exhibition and accompanying catalogue, 'Francesco Clemente Works 1971-1979', which was on view May 3-June 2.
Beauty and brains, the Donna Karan, Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Chloe, Marithe Francois Girbaud star is undoubtedly one of Jamaica's finest exports, as well as a 'model' example.
She landed Guess Jeans as her first campaign and her agency soon had a 'Grace Jones reincarnate'.
Nikki Vassell moved effortlessly from beauty jobs to the super sexy.
