Dr Shalette Ashman struts into fashion

Dr Shalette Ashman, a motivational speaker, author and a pioneer of e-learning in Jamaica is embarking on a new chapter: fashion modelling.

The 50-year-old told The Sunday Gleaner that fashion modelling is a path she has always wanted to take, and even at midlife, she envisions the possibility of achieving great things as a freelance model.

“I [have] always wanted to do fashion modelling, and I just got up off my laurels and I decided that I, by myself, no agent, was just going to explore that, and now I have six designers paying me to wear dem clothes, so mi add fashion model to mi thing!” Ashman, who started e-Learning in Jamaica and the Caribbean in 2005, shared excitedly.

“Honestly, I didn’t set out to become a model, but every time I step out, someone stops me to compliment my look. It happens everywhere, across all sectors, and I eventually realised – why not just embrace it?” she said.

Already she has had her first show, walking for Heather Laine at the 2025 Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association Expo Jamaica media launch event.

Breaking into fashion modelling in 2024 was not an easy feat for Ashman. With youth dominating the modelling industry, she has had to work even harder to secure clients and gigs.

“When my first client agreed to let me wear their clothes at a discount, I almost cried. It was a powerful moment – seeing my thoughts materialise into reality,” Ashman shared about her first client, Florida designer Cholla’s Covered by Grace. Dressing Ashman since 2017, she was the first to help her kick-start her modelling journey in 2024.

The chief executive officer of LearningHub Group still handles the day-to-day of her e-learning company while pursuing this new venture but notes how her education and experience have prepared her for this new role.

“My education might seem unrelated to fashion at first glance, but in truth, it plays a significant role in my journey as a model. With a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in computing in education; a postgraduate degree in education; a master’s in rhetoric, composition, and digital media; a Master in Business Administration (MBA), and a Bachelor of Science degree, I have developed a strong foundation in strategic thinking, digital branding, communication, and adaptability – all of which are essential in the modelling and fashion world,” Ashman told The Sunday Gleaner.

And while she hasn’t yet landed a traditional commercial modelling gig, she is proud of the inroads she has made.

“I have had the opportunity to model accessories and clothing for over half a dozen, and counting, brands, designers, and boutique operators. I am a freelance model, but more than that, I am a creative force. You provide the clothes and accessories, [while] I craft the concept, set the mood, and bring the vision to life. I don’t follow rigid rules. I embrace freedom, spontaneity, and bold expression, so while I may not have had a ‘first modelling gig’ in the traditional sense, every shoot I do is a testament to my creativity, my willingness to take risks, and my commitment to redefining what it means to be a model,” she said.

“I stepped into an industry dominated by youth, yet here I am – over 50 and thriving. My success comes from believing in my own presence, refusing to conform to outdated industry norms, and embracing the joy of what I do. I don’t model because I have to. I model because I want to, because it excites me, and because it challenges perceptions of beauty and age in fashion,” she said.

“If my journey proves anything, it’s that education sharpens your tools, but motivation fuels the journey. And when you combine both? You create your own space – on your own terms,” she added.

Already, Dr Ashman has been approached by designers and brands to showcase their clothing and accessories, and she is currently collaborating with six designers and stores while exploring the possibility of expanding her portfolio to include a perfumery.

The designers she represents include Jamaican designer Simone Michelle; Jamaican accessories designer Iela Sandals and Accessories; Chic in Prints, a Florida-based clothing designer; Dezkel Collection, a Jamaican clothing store and Icon Beauty by La Laing.

From selling Kisko pops and guineps on the streets of Grants Pen to earning a PhD and four master’s degrees, Dr Ashman’s journey is one of determination, resilience and confidence.

“I wanted to be an educator. And, you know, I started out growing up in Grants Pen selling Kisko and ‘suck suck’ on the street and plum and guinep to earning a PhD and four master’s degrees. I used to call myself Dr Ashman from I was 17, and you know, when I started doing my doctorate, the last time I ran out of money, and I remember the university wrote to me because I took [what felt like] 10 years from 2007 to 2014; [it was] seven years and they wrote to me, and I said, ‘You know what?’ I have to finish this term,” Dr Ashman told The Sunday Gleaner.

That same confidence, resilience and determination have guided her on this new path.

“[That] is what vision to reality, to victory really means that you don’t have to be in the spotlight, you don’t have to have all the fans here, but you have to know exactly where it is that you’re going, and just keep plodding. Keep plodding, keep pushing ahead, keep forging, you know, and have your have your endpoint inside,” she said.

When asked what she hopes to achieve in 2025 with regards to her fashion modelling career, Dr Ashman said she hopes to break barriers with the stigma associated with persons over 50 starting a modelling career. She isn’t actively looking for an agency and hoping just to have fun.

“I know the industry is dominated by teeny boppers, but here I am, over 50, thriving and loving every moment of it. Unlike many models who treat this as a business, I don’t approach fashion from a commercial standpoint. I’m not pulling on my business acumen for this – I’m simply having fun,” Dr Ashman said.

ainsworth.morris@gleanerjm.com