Shaneke makes international debut at Styleweek

Styleweek Jamaica unfolds May 25-29 and the runways will be dominated by world-famous supermodels and 'glamourzons' of repute.

But amid the glamfest, the Styleweek Jamaica platform will be used to introduce a few new faces who have the potential to be among the supermodels of the world. Shaneke Guyher is one such model.

At 16 years old, Denham Town High's Guyher was looking forward to graduating more than anything else. There was no set career path for the football-loving teenager. A chance meeting with Saint CEO Deiwght Peters changed her life forever, and now the teen stunner is still dizzy from her whirlwind trip to Paris to meet with the team of Elite.

"When I found her she was not interested in modelling but I ignored her and met with her mom the very evening, and three days later I had her signed in New York (Muse), Paris (Elite), Milan (Women) and London (Elite)."

Guyher will make her first official runway appearance as a model at Styleweek Jamaica 2011, organised by her mother agency Saint International (Jamaica) Limited. She will be a featured model at the International Mecca Of Style show to be held at Fort Charles, Port Royal.

Extraordinary look

She was flown to Paris in February to start her international development programme with Elite, Paris.

"Her look is extraordinary and there is no other model with her look right now," Peters noted.

The fact that she was from the sometimes-volatile Jacques Road community motivated Peters even more to ensure she understood the opportunity she was about to be granted.

For much of her young life, Guyher was grown single-handedly by her hard-working mother Maisie Lecky, who sells in the market in St Thomas and Port Antonio. She also enjoys the loving support of her stepfather, Alfred Lecky.

A self-confessed tomboy, a dress was never a part of Guyher's wardrobe - until now. In fact, Peters bought her her first dress while in Paris. Even more intimidating was her task to master the five inch-heeled shoes which is the norm in the glitzy world of high fashion. Clients such as Italian Vogue have requested her for assignments but her school schedule would not permit.

Peters is confident that Guyher will blow up when she starts her full-time career in Europe this summer.

"I flew with her to Paris earlier in the year and the feedback and requests from some of fashion's most influential clients is a testimony to her potential," Peters reported.

Styleweek Jamaica 2011 is produced by Saint International and is sponsored by Soldanza, After10studios, The Gleaner Company Ltd., Scotiabank, Ocean Spray, American Airlines, Wyndham Kingston Hotel, Jamaica Tourist Board, Heart Trust/NTA, Courtleigh Hotel, Knutsford Court Hotel, Fame FM, TVJ, Kool FM, Nationwide, Carreras, Devon House, Clear Sounds, Jamaica National Heritage Trust, Lasco Cambio, Luxury Limos, and Value Added Services.