( left ) Former Star Poster Girl - Lori Clarke, ( right ) Cristal Adia Brown, 18, is so far the youngest model signed to the agency. - WINSTON SILL PHOTOS
DANIEL ROSE HAS been making his vision work in real terms.
The owner and operator of LaVision Modeling Agency, which opened in Ocho Rios in January, has been working the streets of Ocho Rios and ensuring that his models have regular work.
According to Rose, the models are very active at the hotels in Ocho Rios, working every weekend from Thursday to Saturday. This is unusual in the local fashion industry where there are many agencies and many models but little work.
On Thursdays, Rose's models do a resort wear fashion show at Oceans 11 Hotel, Ocho Rios. On Fridays, they go to Craneridge Resort for a pool and beach party, where they model swimwear, reggae wear, wraps and casual clothing. Saturdays find them at Rooms On The Beach, a SuperClubs property, where they model resort wear in the fashion show.
Additionally, the agency has secured a contract with Sunset Jamaica Grande to do lunch-time fashion shows to begin the third week in October.
PENETRATED MARKET
Rose has penetrated this seemingly untapped market in the industry and his girls take their fair share of the spoils. According to Rose, the models earn $1500 per show and total approximately $5,000 per week. Though it is not an extraordinary amount of money, it is more than some models get for a week. Plus, as 18 year old Cristal Brown, says, it is also a good way to get some exposure.
The youngest and most recent model to join the agency is looking forward to the new experiences. "I am very excited about our upcoming plans and anticipate success," said Cristal. In addition, the models often get a reduced price on the clothes that they wear if they are sold during the fashion shows.
Deiwight Peters, CEO Saint International, speaks to the uniqueness of the situation with the agency, stating that while agencies usually do fashion shows, it is not normally through a contractual arrangement. According to Peters, there are instances when fashion shows are done at hotels, but it is usually done through the designers who want to show their clothes.
"There was a time when Allure was here introducing J-Lo bikini line with Hedonism, and there were models doing the fashion show, but I can't say that it was a contractual arrangement," said Mr. Peters.
EYES OVERSEES AGENCIES
But Rose wants to do more than local contracts for his models. He plans to do an interview in November with Ford Model Agency in New York to discuss signing his girls. Rose plans to get the girls involved with television commercials, calendars and magazines. In the meantime, the models have filmed an ad for Bagga Brown's Weh Yuh Seh on TVJ.
Rose who has been certified at John Casa Blanca school of modelling in New York, is not new to the business of operating an agency. He once ran the Fragrant modelling agency between 2000-2002, which closed down when Rose migrated.
"I'm back to turn the tables again," said Rose who also insists he does not seek sponsorship for his moves.
"I've never really believed in running down sponsorship. I believe that sponsors should run me down. We should be doing something so good that they see us and want to sponsor us," he says.
Rose is in the process of recruiting and training models for the agency. And, according to him, the models go through a six-month training course conducted by himself, which includes voice and speech, acting, makeup, skin care, hair care, posture and grooming.
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