Journey to fashion's runways
Published:Sunday | September 19, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Garfene Grandison, Gleaner Writer
Her fondest childhood memory comes from parading up and down in her grandmother's heels at home and practising poses, pretending to be a model in Caribbean FashionWeek at nine years old.
Ironically, Hanna-Kay Merissa Lettman never thought she would be on the doorsteps of being a top model today. Being granted the opportunity to participate in Pulse's Caribbean Model Search this year was a dream.
But she has come to realise that through hard work she can accomplish anything and that she is "truly blessed to have one of (her) dreams come true".
Lettman was born to Waldamar Morris and Evelyn Lettman on January 28, 1990 in Kiwanis, Jamaica. She is the youngest of four children and grew up in Havendale, St Andrew.
She attended St Cecilia Preparatory School, Shortwood Practising Primary and the Priory School.
Today, she is Pulse's Caribbean Model Search Fashion Model winner.
The self-proclaimed, quiet, yet confident model said while she has only been modelling with pulse for a short time, she already has hopes of becoming one of the world's best supermodels.
She wants other things as well. Lettman also wants to act and practise law.
At 20, Lettman's dreams are as big as they were when she was a nine-year-old.
GL: How did it feel to win the Caribbean Model Search Competition?
ML: Ahhm. I was very elated to know that I was given the opportunity, not only to represent Jamaica, but to also live out my dream in terms of modelling.
GL: How did you prepare for the competition?
ML: There was a lot of training both at Pulse and at home, eating properly and drinking a lot of water. It's a whole tedious process, but I was excited although there are times when I just couldn't be bothered and wanted to chicken out.
GL: On the night of the competition, what were you feeling?
ML: I was very happy, for some reason. Surprisingly, I wasn't nervous. The nervousness came when they were about to announce the winner. It's like I was about to have a heart attack. I was shaky and scared.
GL: Do you think winning was worth what you had to go through?
ML: Of course. At the end of the day, dreams can come true. As long as you work towards it, then the hard work will pay off.
GL: What comes after winning the competition?
ML: I want to bring a whole different perspective to the title. A different look, attitude and personality. In the future, though, I hope to find myself in New York.
GL: Who do you look up to in the fashion industry?
ML: I would have to say Jaunel McKenzie because she holds such high standards. She works with all the top designers and is one of the most requested models to come out of the Caribbean.
GL: What inspires you to get up and model each day?
ML: I guess I do it because of the expectations, especially when people close to me, as well as strangers, encourage me. That and also my passion for fashion.