During my extremely short-lived tenure as a model for Donna Ramsammy-James when I lived in Guyana, I was always hesitant of highlighting it as something that I did. Not because I was ever ill-treated during my time there, on the contrary, she is the only designer I have come across who treated local models with the greatest amount of dignity and respect. At almost all rehearsals we had meals and transportation was prearranged for us, a rarity in today’s profit-centred industry. My hesitation to discuss it mostly stemmed from the stigma attached to modelling locally.
It was one which mirrored and still mirrors an image of a low-paid girl, who has no set goals in life, mostly because she chooses to ‘work’ in an industry where structure and profits are imaginary. Nonetheless, Caribbean models consistently gain global attention, often outnumbering seasoned local designers and stylists. While Jamaica has been legendary over the past two last decades for exporting striking beauties unswervingly, Trinidad and Tobago has also successfully marked its spot with new star model Naomi Chin-Wing who recently walked the runway for Saint Laurent, Rochas and Alexander Mc Queen in their shows at Paris Fashion Week. Not bad for a 17-yearold first timer with no actual international experience.