Saint International CEO Deiwght Peters (left) and the winners of the 2009 Fashion Face of the Caribbean Orlando Lopez (right) and Ashane Rose. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Sixteen-year-old Orlando Lopez and 15-year-old Ashane Rose were, on Friday night, named Saint International's Fashion Faces of the Caribbean 2009 at the Courtleigh Auditorium on St Lucia Avenue in St Andrew. Each winner was chosen from an impressive field of 18 men and 21 women, respectively, and also created some history of their own.

In addition to winning development contracts from Saint International, each valued at $150, 000, and a BlackBerry Pearl mobile phone donated by Digicel, both were also signed by international model agency Next.

The revelations of the international signings were made known before the actual winners were announced. The judges were veteran model scout Khalid Munroe; a director from Wilhelmina Models, Roman Young; a scout from Next Model Management, Jason Valenta and rising international stylist Kevin O'Brian.

From the men, 17-year-old Kimarley Morgan was second runner-up and Tian Brown, also 17, was first runner-up. From the women, Diana Ellis, 14, was third while 15-year-old Jade Stephenson finished second. Stephenson was signed on the spot by Wilhelmina Models in New York.

Overcome by emotion

Both winners were overcome by emotion when their names were announced. Lopez covered his face with his hands as the audience applauded. He then hugged some of the other male models before strutting cock-a-hoop from the stage drawing gales of laughter from the audience.

"It was great, my tripe was twisting in my belly," Lopez said in reaction to hearing that he had won. "Modelling has always been one of my dreams and aspirations so it was everything." He said he hoped to work off some of the excitement he was feeling at a scheduled after-party.

"Overwhelmed, happy, a lot of things right now; I can't find every word but I am so, so happy right now," Rose said in reaction to her win, her voice on the verge of breaking as she fought back her emotions. She said she expected to do well but she realised that competition was going to be tough. After her name was announced, she hugged her friend Rachel Christian, who always encouraged her, telling her she would do well.

Christian was among 19 females and 13 males signed by Saint International on the night. They included Chantal Johnson, Crystal White, Diana Ellis, Melissa Kwok, Olivia Lewis, Abigail Williams, Toni-Ann Hibbert, Oshin Walker, Chara Neita, Shani Wong, Erica Huie, Danielle Bryan, Tamara Henry, Lisa Tappin, Abigail Winter and Tashaun House, Dane Chin, Brent Narr, Levar Barrow, Nicolas Williams, Shamar Hill, Oje Clarke, Merrick Wilson, Dean Brown, Oneil Johnson and Alistair McFarlane.

Strut Jamaica

The models paraded before the judges wearing the creations of local designer Les Campbell and debutantes O.B. Williams and Saquithi, who revealed their lines H.O.D and Asmera, respectively.

Patrons at the event also witnessed the roll-out of Strut Jamaica, the first publication of Saint's publishing arm. The 44-page glossy, edited by Alicia Roache and which was launched recently at Fiction nightclub in St Andrew, was snapped up by guests.

It has Saint International's Sigail Currie on its cover and features people who define style in Jamaica. Fashionistas Yendi Phillipps, D'Angel and Kibwe McGann were in attendance and were called to the stage where they paraded their style to the packed auditorium.

Roache, who was also a guest at the event, exuded her own style, looking radiant in a grey-and-black shift dress with matching silver, strappy stilettos.