The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

BRITTANIA’s recent trip to the big apple taught her how stiff the modelling industry really is. The experience is something she will never forget, the young model told Tribune Woman.

As the 2012 Supermodel of the Bahamas winner, Grand Bahama native Brittania Mitchell travelled to New York City on February 16 for two weeks, where she was awarded bookings, designer showcases in the city and a documentary film deal.

She travelled with the Supermodel of the Bahamas organisation’s founder, OilinSha Coakley and Bahamian models Amwar Mackey, Charlene Elliot, Royann Ambrister and Oneshia Smith.

“Almost every girl in NYC wants to be a model. So me and everyone else who are coming as international models into NYC to get booked for jobs that those girls live for, we have to be on our P’s and Q’s. We have to look, walk, talk and act the part at all times. One mistake can cost you your whole career and there is always someone behind you waiting to take your place,” said Brittania.

Brittania said modelling makes her feel “so good” she can’t picture herself retiring from it.

“It’s officially a part of my life. I plan to take it to the highest of heights and with God on my side I will reach the mark. Becoming a Victoria Secret model, a high fashion model, commercial, print or editorial model is what I look forward to,” she said.

Every day Brittania said there was something to look forward to in NYC. Whether it was meeting with famous designers like Marco Hall, or meeting photographers, producers, hotel owners, casting directors, model managers, other models and other established people, she said it was a great overall experience.

“Attending BK Fashion Weekend was so awesome. It was my first time in a big show like that. I walked for three extremely talented designers: Sanja Greie, Sohung Designs and a student from Maxwell High. The show involved great clothes and very nice people. Being on that stage felt amazing. It’s like an adrenaline rush, where you are filled with excitement and anxiousness all at the same time. The camera lights are flashing from every direction,” said Brittania.

For Mr Coakley, the NYC experience was very overwhelming and it was really a blessing to take that specific group over this season.

“I haven’t been travelling, I’ve been grounded here in the Bahamas just working so much on perfecting the concept of Supermodel of the Bahamas and its reality show,” he said.

Mr Coakely said the organisation was given the opportunity to do a reality show “The Making of a Supermodel” with ZNS.

“It took some time for me to get some ground work done and then taking the models off, I felt that the Bahamas needed it,” he said.

“Bahamians are very green to this industry and even though they have potential, it does not always mean that they can be successful in the industry unless you expose them to the market. You have to expose them to the international market where the competition is stiff, which is in New York City. Brittania did very well, she got lots of bookings. She has movie proposals for the month of June this year, along with a few other models,” said Mr Coakley.

According to Mr Coakley, the Supermodel of the Bahamas Organisation began in 2007. He said the concept for the event was to give young individuals that want to pursue modelling and acting an opportunity.

Mr Coakley said the competition is about connecting international businesses and clients with the local market in the Bahamas, as well as opening avenues for young Bahamians.

“Also, it is to help with my business, OilinSha’s Models and Talent Management, with seeking young fresh faces to manage and push them abroad to international clients,” he said.

“I have built a very large client base over the last 27 years as an agent. After moving back to the Bahamas I decided that Bahamians can do well in this industry because of their exotic beauty. But what needed to happen is they needed to be taught through workshops the right attitude, the right polishing and mannerisms that are needed to make it in this industry.”

One of the doors that have been open this year for the supermodels of the Bahamas is Mr Coakley’s contract signing with international agency “Starlite Models.”

“They have teamed up with my agency and it is basically two management teams becoming one force. Managing the faces that I have underneath my management, along with the faces that they already have. What they will do is constantly market the models from the USA end, and when work is confirmed, they fly my models in to work,” said Mr Coakley.

Brittania said her advice to anyone who wants to model internationally would be to develop a strong personality. She said personality sells in the industry.

“Designers look past the imperfections and book you just for your personality, mainly because when you’re on stage it’s your personality that makes people look at you and say they want to wear what you are wearing, or they want to look like you. And that’s basically the job; persuading people to buy the designers clothes by making it look good,” said Brittania.