Pulse's reality series comes to a head

The exciting season finale of Pulse's Caribbean Model Search Petite Reality TV series airs tonight at 10 on CVM TV. The ground-breaking television series, chronicled the riveting journey of 20 young models vying for a historic title.

On the last day of shooting at various locations across the city, the probing eyes of passersby gazed upon the beauties who had endured weeks of tear-jerking and body-bending tests and challenges.

The airing of the grand finale this weekend will be the culmination of weeks of intense training and preparation in pursuit of catwalk dreams.

The contestants were undoubtedly encouraged by Pulse Petite Model trailblazers and Sanya Hughes of Pirates of the Caribbean fame, who made cameos during the season.

One of the remaining contenders, who hopes to etch her name in Jamaica's and the Caribbean's illustrious fashion and beauty history, will come from a group of seven.

They are Zemel Bennett, Everett Fenton's Garage; Ruth-Ann Brooks, Green Daze; Kemesha Edwards, Purple Princess Boutique; Sadida Mills, Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum; Diedre McKenzie, Klesing Industrial Garage; Anastassia Mitchell, Soft Sheen Carson and Sydia Valentine, Azan Super Centre.

The competition began at the 38A Trafalgar Road Pulse Fashion Centre and continued on the breathtaking grounds of Villa Ronai in Stony Hill, St Andrew, and other locations across Kingston and St Andrew.

zemel a threat

Zemel threatened to crush the other girls' dreams early on in the competition, posing and pouting her way to victory in the first challenge, dubbed 'The Art of Beauty'.

A quiet Bridgitte Stuart nabbed the win for the second challenge, 'Ruling the Runway', with a captivating performance. However, she was eventually eliminated from the competition.

Challenge three, dubbed 'Pairs in Air for Fashion', involved the surprise introduction of five new contenders to the competition.

Unfazed by the rising tension, Zemel and Sydia leaped their way to victory in a competition for pairs while Sydia took top individual honours.

Sydia would also go on to win the 'Screen Test' challenge after an emotional preliminary session with Pulse International model and actress Sky Nicole Grey. The very vocal Sadida Mills also earned an honourable mention for her efforts.

Throughout the competition, Ruth-Ann and Sadida have been vocal about the other contestants and their determination to win. Ruth-Ann's popularity among viewers has no doubt buoyed her confidence throughout the competition.

Moreover, she could cause another upset as the sole girl not from the original 15 still standing in the finals.

The Yoga Angels Studio at Villa Ronai in Stony Hill was host to the show in week five of the competition. Anastassia Mitchell who described the twists, turns, ups and downs of the 'Strapped for Photos' challenge "a disaster", having fallen off the straps and bruising her hands during the process, earned her first win of the contest.

Like Sydia, she too would go on to win back-to-back challenges after taking the win for what she described a cruel challenge.

Floating on their backs in an eight-foot deep pool, while making shapes and posing for the cameras, the girls dreaded the thought of being eliminated since seven of the nine participating could not swim. Truth be told, the contestants showed tremendous courage to complete the 'Floating beauty' challenge.

Diedre, whose fellow contestants described her as the "drama queen" of the group, won the Eye Q test. Though she received only honourable mentions in many of the challenges, she believes she is a strong competitor in the final stretch of the competition.

judges

The judges who will give the crucial and decisive verdict of the season today are: Pulse CEO Kingsley Cooper; the Gleaner's social scribe, Chester Francis Jackson; and Pulse general manager and fashion director,

Romae Gordon.

Gordon, a former Pulse supermodel, has said throughout the competition that a petite model's versatility was crucial to the aspirants' marketability and overall success in the competitive modelling arena.

A number of established and emerging fashion and beauty professionals, including make-up artist Paul March and photographer Luca Khouri, were part of the historic competition.

The seventh and final challenge, which takes place at Studio 38, will see the girls donning clothes from Gabriellas' Couture collection. Find out who has the flexibility, agility and poise to win and claim the title of the Caribbean's first petite modelling star.

The CMS TV Reality series is sponsored by Eye Q Optical, Organic Root Stimulator, The Gleaner and CVM TV.