Three young models will represent the Caribbean in Shanghai, China on December 6 at the Elite Model Look World competition. The trio will have an opportunity to vie for over US million in modelling contracts.
The models, 18-year-old Shenika Fernandez from Trinidad, 19-year-old Krystal Benjamin from Antigua and 20-year-old Amanda King from Guyana were chosen from a slate of 18 other finalists from the region. They were selected last Saturday by a jury panel which included Iris Minier, Elite Paris International Scout; Caridad Fernandez, president, Fashion Week Puerto Rico and Official Representative of Elite Model Look Pureto Rico; Sofia Krawczyk, Elite Paris Model; and Jean-Pierre Begon, vice-president Elite International, at the regional final at Hyatt Regency Trinidad.
The young women would no doubt experience a major life adjustment should they win any of the modelling contracts up for grabs at the finals in Shanghai. Crystal Noriega, last year’s representative from Trinidad and Tobago, Crystal’s success has landed her modelling contracts with Elite Latin and South America, DNA Models New York and Elite Model Management Paris. She is now based in New York. On her debut at the Mercedez Benz New York Fashion Week this year, she walked for Mark Jacobs, one of the top design labels in the world along with other high profile designers. Her “mother agency” is Coco Velvet international in Trinidad and Tobago .
Shenika, Krystal and Amanda are looking to follow in Crystal’s footsteps, however, they know that there is hard work ahead along the road to success.According to Shenika, if she is successful in Shanghai, her humility will help her to adjust. “I am hoping things will work out for me. I’m a fan of America’s Next Top Model (cable television reality series); I’ve been looking at it since I was younger so I knew I wanted to take a chance at modelling. It feels good to know that I made it to the finals because it is something I am interested in,” the statuesque beauty said.
Shenika said when she saw the Elite Model competition advertised in the newspapers, she had already missed the date for the Trinidad auditions and had to go to Tobago for auditions there. The young model took time off from Roytec where she was studying Business Management but said she plans to continue her education after her experience.
She said regardless of what happens in life or what path her life takes, she will not give up on her studies. “My education is very important to me. I don’t know where I might end up after the competition. I will do my best but whatever happens I plan to go back to school,” she said.
She describes herself as a simple person who likes to dabble in different things.”I like to keep active, so I may also enroll at Hotel School for a culinary course. I just like to try different things.” Shenika has big plans for her future. “I love clothes and shoes and I like to dress up and dress people so eventually with my business background I will open a store but I also want to do the culinary thing,” she revealed.
Shenika doesn’t only like modelling, clothes and cooking. The young model can also dance and is comfortable with various genres, including ballet, modern tap, hip hop, folk and limbo.
Antigua-born Krystal Benjamin also has a chance at walking away with the Elite Model World title. She said the experience of coming to Trinidad and being selected for the finals is overwhelming. “This is my first time coming to Trinidad. It is a very beautiful place. I’m really overwhelmed and happy to be representing my country and the Caribbean.,” she said.
Krystal reminisced, “As a child I used to be teased about being too thin but now it’s all paying off. They used to call me magga, bony and all sorts of things. But I never let it affect me.”
The 19-year-old works at a hotel in Antigua on the tour desk. She said the opportunity to model has been a lifelong dream.
Amanda King from Guyana said she is happy to be representing her country in Shanghai. The part time college student is also a teacher at a secondary school in her counrty. At age 20 ,with a successful career, she said she has what it takes to be a model. “I’ve always wanted to model even though I’ve been somewhat of a tomboy. She said she took time off to pursue her modelling aspirations. “If it doesn’t work out I have my career to fall back on,” she said with confidence.
For the 28th consecutive year, the Elite network is organising a prestigious international modelling contest, offering thousands of girls between the ages of 14 and 22 the opportunity to achieve their dream and follow in the footsteps of top international models such as Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Stephanie Seymour, and Gisele Bundchen, whose careers were launched by Elite.
At the December 6 final in Shanghai, one girl will be crowned the 2011 winner – receiving a contract with Elite Model Management worth a guaranteed US$150,000 over three years, alongside two runners-up prizes of US$75,000 and US$50,000 respectively.
The Elite modelling contest has become a worldwide renowned event and Elite Model Look teams travel throughout the world in search of the top models of the future. The International Elite team was present in Trinidad and Tobago on August 23 at Gulf City Mall, August 24 at Trincity Mall and August 25 in Tobago to discover the future top models.
The Elite team toured nine Caribbean territories – Jamaica, Haiti, St Lucia, St Vincent, Antigua, Grenada, Guyana, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago with several castings.
To participate in one of the Elite Model Look castings, applicants must be female between the ages of 14 and 22 and at least five feet eight inches tall (172cm).
(Source http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,150861.html)
