Saint model eyes Chanel

When St Elizabeth teenager Kim Gordon boarded the plane to London this past summer to start her international modelling career, it was a dream come true. The lanky teen always admired fashion icons like Naomi Campbell, and wanted the chance to be just as glamorous and successful as they were.

A chance meeting with a stranger quickly resulted in a meeting with Saint CEO Deiwght Peters, who immediately saw her star potential.

"Kim's fine features and approachable beauty, I recognised, could transcend all fashion boundaries. Her personality and intellect are also powerful accessories. She reasons very well, and that is an important tool for a model looking for success internationally," Peters explained.

Gordon's mother expressed reservations at first, but a candid conversation with Peters about the young talent's educational priorities put that aside. Saint assisted Gordon with school expenses.

Gordon underwent intense preparatory sessions in runway lessons, industry strategy, wardrobe management technique, client relations and personality dynamics. In short order, Saint got Gordon signed to Elite London, Milan and Paris. She was invited to London and Paris for the spring-summer 2012 designer collections.

Despite the absence of a portfolio with the usual high-styled photos, Gordon was able to nab six top shows during London Fashionweek, including Ashley Isham, Danielle Scutt, Fashion East, Bernard Chandiram, among others.

Her success was based on her personality and sophisticated style. Gordon's wardrobe was principally characterised by Jamaican designers Kaydian Nicely and Gregory 'HOD' Williams. Her arrival in Paris caused much excitement, with interest from the House of Chanel headed by the irreplaceable fashion icon, Karl Lagerfeld.

Gordon was booked for the celebrity-driven presentation of the brand, Hogan, which has the legendary Lagerfeld as chief designer.

Joining the stars

Afterwards, she was confirmed for Saccai's, a Vogue-endorsed Japanese brand, high-profile runway show.

Gordon joined the cadre of Saint stars, who exclusively represented Jamaica at Paris Fashionweek - these included Orneila Edwards and Shena Moulton.

For Gordon, the experience was incredible but she has her eyes firmly set on the prize Chanel assignment.

"I would love to be the face of Chanel some day," said the articulate 16-year-old. Already Gordon has been re-invited to Paris in January to meet clients for the couture shows.

These shows are among the most exclusive and extravagant in the world, and involve exquisitely designed gowns all intricately handmade and shown to the world's richest women.

Peters believes that Gordon needs the development angles from the important New York market.

"New York is always great to develop new models. There are great photographers who can test a model and develop her portfolio. This helps to define the high-fashion image of the model to be able to convince the top clients," Peters explained.

Powerful agencies such as DNA, Marilyn, MUSE and others are said to have expressed very strong interest in representing Gordon.

"There are no two ways about it, Kim Gordon will become a modelling sensation in the upcoming years," Peters said confidently.