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Excitement builds as final stages of
CMS 2007 approach
After a grueling 20-city roadshow, organizers have announced the final UK dates of the prestigious Caribbean Model Search.
A team of 22 scouts has been searching the UK for the past ten weeks, after deciding it was time to find the next UK supermodel of Caribbean heritage.
This month, four live auditions will be held in Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and London, and will see hundreds of potential supermodels work the catwalk in an attempt to reach the finals, win the competition and sign lucrative modeling contracts with Select in London and Pulse in the Caribbean. Then in true supermodel style, the winner will receive a free trip to Jamaica to film the TV series, The Search for the Caribbean's Next Supermodel, along with 12 rivals from across the region!
CMS organizer Michael Williams says of the entrants so far: 'What has surprised us most is the high quality of the entries and the spread from around the country. From Preston to Prestatyn, Birmingham to Balham, from the "hood" to the home counties! We've received over 200 entries so far, mostly online, and approximately half of those are being called to the regional auditions so that we can evaluate them up close.'
Approximately 20 regional finalists will be chosen to be part of a high-profile fashion shoot before taking part in a final live show to be held in London's Leicester Square. The auditions are also the last chance for last minute entrants to win a place in the final.
Williams says: "This is a fantastic opportunity for any model aiming for an international career. The winner will be signed to Select in the UK and if she succeeds in Jamaica, she will have worldwide representation through Pulse's network of agency partners."
For further information, interviews and images:
Press and Publicity Contact: Chelcie Lewis 07903 811 512 chelcie@firemediauk.net
CMS FINAL AUDITION DATES
Thursday 16 August - Bristol
Rose Green Centre, (West Indian Cricket Club)
65 Gordon Road Whitehall, Bristol BS5 7DR
Friday 17 August - Birmingham
The Drum, 144 Potters Lane
Aston, Birmingham B6 4UU
Sun 19 August - Manchester
WI Sports & Social Club, Westwood Street
Moss Side, Manchester M14
Tuesday 21 August - London
Sound, 1 Leicester Square
London W1
CMS FINAL
Wednesday 5 September - London
Sound, 1 Leicester Square
London W1
First UK success for Caribbean Model Search
Claudia Smith is the first success story of the newly-launched Caribbean Model Search UK (CMS UK). Pulse chairman Kingsley Cooper met her on a visit to London and was so impressed that he invited her to participate in Caribbean Fashion Week in June: "She wanted to enter Caribbean Model Search but we were immediately interested in signing her to Pulse."
This means that Claudia will not be eligible for the Search and will instead become an ambassador for the competition. Understandably, she is excited about the future: "Although Pulse is based in the Caribbean, they have an impressive reputation so I'm looking forward to working with them."
Organiser of CMS UK, Michael Williams, is convinced that there are more successes like Claudia Smith waiting to happen. "We decided to partner with Pulse when we saw how they keep discovering these incredible models in the Caribbean. Hopefully we can do the same here."
Claudia Smith will fly to Jamaica courtesy of Airtours which has services to Montego Bay direct from Gatwick and East Midlands airports. For more information on flight and holidays to Jamaica visit www.airtours.co.uk
The search is on to find the UK's next
Caribbean supermodel
Pulse, the Caribbean's number one modeling agency, is extending its search to find the next Caribbean supermodel.
Following the huge success of the agency's annual Caribbean Model Search (CMS), this year Pulse has decided to include young British women of Caribbean heritage in their hunt to find a new catwalk superstar.
Over the past six years, CMS has helped to discover 12 world-class models who have gone on to score lucrative contracts in the fashion world - from New York to London, Paris and Milan.
These include Jaunel McKenzie, presently the world's number one black model, who appeared in Vogue (U.S. edition) a record 11 times; Nadine Willis, the fastest rising supermodel in history, who was hired by British cosmetics brand Rimmel to appear in an advertising campaign alongside Kate Moss in 2005; and CMS 2005 winner Gaye McDonald, who this year appeared on the cover of Japanese fashion bible Luire and is featured in a stunning 18-page fashion editorial.
In 2006, a reality-TV series that documented the entire CMS process grabbed the attention of a strong and loyal audience in the Caribbean. Michael Williams, organizer of the CMS campaign in the UK is convinced that Pulse can build on that audience in 2007 by incorporating British models with a Caribbean heritage.
He said: "The only supermodel of Caribbean heritage to be discovered in the UK is Naomi Campbell, and that was over 20 years ago! Yet, in the Caribbean they discover two or three models every single year who build successful careers, working with the top designers and magazines around the world. It's time for us to create the same success here.
"We know it won't be easy, but we will be teaming up with leading London model agency Select to scout all around Britain. The winner will be signed to Select in the UK and have worldwide opportunities with Pulse. In addition, she will fly to Jamaica to film the CMS TV series and compete against winners from 12 other countries.
"This is a great opportunity, so we're hoping that everyone who knows someone with potential will encourage them to enter."
Editor's notes:
1. The Caribbean Model Search (CMS) was founded by Pulse in Jamaica in 1986 and now reaches 12 Caribbean countries, attracting over 7,000 contestants. This year, for the first time, candidates from America, Canada and Britain are to be included in the annual search.
2. Having started in Jamaica, the Caribbean Model Search spread Caribbean-wide in 2002, when current supermodels such as Jaunel McKenzie (CMS 2002 winner) and Nell Robinson (CMS 2002 finalist) emerged as winners. Over the past six years alone, CMS has discovered up to 12 top models who have gone on to score lucrative contracts in the fashion world - from New York to London, Paris and Milan.
3. More recently, north London model Claudia Smith is the first British success story for Pulse (who also organise the annual Caribbean Fashion Week (CFW)). Claudia landed her deal after attending the launch of CFW 2007, held at the UK's Jamaica High Commission in February. The determined model introduced herself to Pulse chairman Kingsley Cooper while he was in London, and the move paid off tremendously.
