– GFW CEO
FILLED with excitement and jaw-dropping fashion, Guyana Model Search 2010 came off with a bang at the Pegasus Hotel recently, and Guyana got a taste of what had been cooking for weeks in the Designer Portfolio and Stylist Competition.

Fashions on the Catwalk at “Glamorous”

As expected, the event featured delicious collections and fierce attitude on the catwalk. The night exploded with a string of new collections from fresh, young designers who are proving that fashion has a future in Guyana.

From fresh new ideas to actual production, the hot new designers in the competition grew tremendously under Guyana Fashion Weekend CEO, Sonia Noel’s direction and the guidance of her team.

Guyana also got a glimpse of the hottest new lineup of models to take any local stage in years, and in the end, the top models were crowned.

Male model winners were Steven Bagot, Tyrone Haniff, Esau Humphrey, and Osafa Dosantos. Females were Alana Phoenix, Gerisa Frances, Fiano Spencer, and Alisa Williams, and  carrying off the prizes in the plus-size category were Latoya Whitehead, Pamela Vaughn, Lucia James, and  Mishon Pertab.

Samantha Mosley, Kester Hinds, and Gail Davidson carried off the chef prizes.  ‘Team Pumpkin’, led by Chef Deon Tasher and designer Micheal De Abreau won for the best design.

Jomal Larose led the team that won the creative out make from Victoria Lily and paper.  Natasha John Won best Arabian night outfit. Lucia James won the ad challenge along with Anthony Staman and Alicia Kiston. Photo shoot winners are Steven Baggot, Jonelle Dugall and Latoya Whitehead.

The GFW committee decided to honour several corporate entities  Palace De Leon, Rent-A-Tent NCN, Roraima  Airways Inc and Scotia Bank for long standing  contribution to the fashion industry and Ministry of Agriculture for their endorsement of Cutting Style which highlighted the Culinary Arts. They will continue the honour their partners at various GFW event.

The top designer this year went to Nekisha John whose fierce collection of leather and tiger prints clawed its way to a top finish. The audience was buzzing about her collection from the opening presentation when she unleashed jungle fever at the Pegasus. David Clarke, Micheal De Abreau and Micheal Kellman were the 1st 2nd and 3rd runners, respectively.

The top stylist in the competition was very flamboyant Mark Adams followed by Ryon Berkley and Kevin Singh.

At the end of the show Noel  remarked,  “It was a major success….I was pleased with how it turned out and the overwhelming support these young people received, but I am particularly happy about the fact that Guyana is emerging as a regional front runner when it comes to fresh, young talent”.

Sonia Noel also said that the focus of the models, designers, stylists and chefs in the competition was “unbelievable” and she praised the hard work of a number of persons who worked behind the scenes. She expressed gratitude to the sponsors and the persons who contributed in some small way to the competition; she was high in praise of Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud and his ministry’s endorsement of the culinary arts challenge.

The large audience embraced the models who battled it out on stage for a place in the top four in the respective categories. The popular models were well supported by various fractions with the audience, but it was the plus size models who electrified the room.

The winner of the culinary challenge was also announced on Sunday night and already Sonia Noel is in discussions about the direction in which the competition will go. The winner of the competition was   chefs were Samantha Mosley, Kester hinds Gail Davidson.

Last year winners Jamain Victor and Yolanda Kerr were featured in pink in the opening number signify breast cancer awareness and will be a big part of fashion in October.

-GFW committee decided to honour several corporate entities including Palace De Leon, Rent-A-Tent, NCN and Roraima Airways Inc and Scotia Bank for long standing contribution to the fashion industry.

The   Ministry of Agriculture was also honoured for their endorsement of Cutting Style which highlighted the Culinary Arts. They will continue the honour their partners at various GFW event. The auditions for designers and models will be on the 17th and 18th July at Water Chris for more info call 2263099 of email guyanafw@gmail.com.