Shena Moulton enjoys Calvin Klein run

Leighton Levy, Gleaner Writer

Many models have left Jamaica's shores in search of international success. Some achieve it; some stumble and fall along that walkway to stardom.

The measure of success, though for each model is usually whether he, or she has that 'it' factor. That 'it' is usually determined by what shows they walk in the fashion capitals of the world - New York, Paris, Milan, London - and the international potency of the brands they walk for.

Two of the top brands in the fashion world are Marc Jacobs and Calvin Klein. Many models have become superstars because they are endorsed by these brands, and show up at the world's fashion centres representing them. Fashion pundits play very close attention to which models are used, and how often.

It was only two years ago that 13-year-old Shena Moulton won the FashionFace Caribbean after being discovered by Deiwght Peters of Saint International, and was signed on the spot by Muse Models from New York. She was the youngest person ever to win.

In her first full season that began in September 2009, Calvin Klein booked her for International Fashion Week. When the second season of International Fashion Week rolled around in February this year, Calvin Klein again booked Moulton.

Fashion pundits began to take notice.

Open secret

One of the open secrets of the industry is that Calvin Klein almost never uses dark-skinned models for consecutive events of this nature.

The pundits were sent scurrying to the fashion archives, when this September, Moulton was again booked by Klein for a third straight season.

This has not happened since at least 1999, and pundits have had a hard time saying when was it before then that a black woman has walked for Calvin Klein in three seasons.

"This is mind-boggling, fashion powerbrokers are still commenting on this achievement. It definitely puts her in the upper echelons of the industry. Calvin is considered the most selective in the business, and certainly every black model who has walked the Calvin runway has become a supermodel. This, of course, with good management," said Deiwght Peters, CEO of Saint International.

Among the black models who have been catapulted to 'supermodeldom' through Calvin-runway endorsement include Liya Kibede, Alek Wek, and Jourdann Dunn.

In that time, Moulton has also walked consecutively for Marc Jacobs.

Fine qualities

André Cowan is an agent for Muse Management in New York. He will be Moulton's chaperone to Milan and Paris for this season. They left the island Wednesday night for the fashion capitals.

Cowan believes Moulton's accomplishments have set her up for great things. He also believes she has all the qualities to make it to the very top.

"She has all the qualities the industry is looking for, the bone structure, the eyes, she photographs very well," he said. "Casting directors are amazed."

Cowan explains that most of the requests Muse gets are based on her photographs. (It's a case of) what they see they like, and they want to see more."

The agent also reveals that Moulton has the right 'fit'. "She fits clothes very well. She is 5 feet, 11 inches and she has what pundits consider 'perfect model measurements' 33-23-34. Her legs are also longer than her torso, another great trait."

What seals the deal for Moulton, though, is her personality. "She is bubbly, she is engaging. She commands a room."

A far climb

Major campaigns now beckon, Cowan says, as Moulton looks to start her full modelling career.

It has been a far climb for the statuesque teen from the Kingston inner city.

Since being discovered in, Shena has gone on to set a record when she walked for an unprecedented 21 shows in her first international runway-show season (in New York and Paris). These included Louis Vuitton, Kenzo, Anne Valerie Hache, Commuun, BCBG, Ports 1961 and others. The power of these brands is defined by the global advertising spend and their general lifestyle profile.

This season, the Jamaican stunner, walked 15 shows in New York alone, including Richard Chai, Marc Jacobs, Marc by Marc, Rachel Roy, Tadashi, Ohne Titel, Rosa Cha, Dinae Von Furstenburg, Izaac Mizrahi, Thakoon, Michael Angel, Nanette Lapore and Vivenne Tam. Shena was also booked for at least 30 shows, many of which had to be dropped due to scheduling conflicts.

Shena has also appeared for major editorials in Teen Vogue, Russian Vogue and recently appeared on the cover of Wanted magazine. From all indications, it is clear that Shena has laid her claim on the prized position of becoming a timeless supermodel.

"We are celebrating what we think could be the dawning of Jamaica's super-model moment," Peters beamed.