By Anastasha Elliott
If you have ever heard of Winnielle Model Management then you equate them with first class fashion events and top notch models. Now the agency has been on sort of a hiatus, one could say, for the past three years. Recently CEO Winnielle Pereira re-launched the agency with a renewed focus and energy.
Winnielle Pereira WMM CEO
The agency was first created in 2003 when Pereira returned to St. Kitts after spending some time in California honing her skills as a model. She decided to create an agency as she saw a need to produce professionally trained models which she thinks is one of the backbones of any successful fashion industry.
For five years she toiled at this task and produced several professionally trained models the crème of which were dubbed the “High Steppers” and drew a following at whatever event they participated in. They were also sought after regionally and international and participated in many fashion shows, pageants, commercials, music videos and editorial shoots.
Fast forward three years and the agency have been re-birthed with a renewed focus and energy. The agency now has a focus not only to produce top notched professionally trained models but also to equip these young men and women with tangible skills they can use in their daily lives.
Thus instead of simply offering a model boot camp as they did before to train aspiring young men and women in the art form of modeling, the agency is offering a Model Empowerment Course spanning a twelve week period. During this 12 week course young men and women will undergo a rigorous schedule of training covering a varied topic range.
CEO Pereira has said, “At Winnielle Model Management, we strive for excellence. Our innovative team has never failed to bring fourth productions that always linger in the hearts of those who have experienced them. As things are today, we see a need for more than just professionally trained young men and women but young people who also have the skills they need to succeed in life and not fall prey to the ills of society.
Thus we have designed an empowerment course that meshes a teaching of model skills and techniques with timely knowledge on health and wellness and nutrition, personal management skills as it relates to time and money and setting and achieving goals, decision making, general etiquette, behavioral change communication and personal and professional security among other topics.”
Participants of Winnielle Model Management Empowerment Course will experience two photoshoots as part of their training throughout the course for which they will be styled and accessorized by Sannie Bowry of Fashion Caraibe and Plush Accessories owned by Kirah Griffith.
Ms Pereira, a single mother of three said she has gathered a team consisting of formerly trained models who have gone on to become successes within their chosen fields and old partners to create an agency with a presence that promotes not only professionally trained models but empowered young men and women who are equipped with the tools needed to become not only successful models but ambassadors, role models and more importantly career professionals.
Winnielle Model Management has revealed a team whom they promote as possessing Class, Professionalism, Innovation, Persistence, Faith all qualities necessary to succeed. “This is why we are called the empowerment team,” said the agency’s CEO.
She explained that the WMM Team to date comprises makeup artistes Davina Baptiste a former WMM model, photographer Garth Archibald, Videographer Dele Adams, Operations Manager/PRO Ana Elliott and CEO Winnielle Pereira. It is expected that more team members will be added as the agency progresses.
Of the Empowerment Course WMM’s Operations Manager/PRO has said, “this is something that our society needs, for each of us to give back in whatever little way that we can to the betterment of our future, for our kids are our future and if we do not equip them with the tools they need to succeed then we do not have a successful future ahead of us,”
The agency will also be hosting a fashion event it has dubbed “A Taste of Africa & Beyond”. This event according to Ms. Pereira will highlight a blend of creations from all around the world inspired by themes ROOTS, CULTURE & COUTURE.
“It is our aim at Winnielle Model Management (WMM), with the help of our corporate partners to bring the beauty & fashion Industry back to life within this Federation. With our network of regional and international fashion Industry professionals we bridge the gap… It’s been done before and we are back to do it again”, said Pereira.
She concluded, “What we are proposing, with your support, is to once again host a High Class, Professionally executed, most exciting fashion event, blending both International & Local fusion to catapult St. Kitts into the Fashion arena as a place where fashion and culture is very much alive.”
Anastasha Elliott is a Freelance Reporter