The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

A NEW modelling competition will give one Bahamian woman the opportunity to be named the new face of Mango Tree Media.

The online reality show featuring eight models vying to be named the new face of Mango Tree Media started in December. It was designed to give young aspiring models an opportunity to gain exposure.

The structure of the online show mirrors that of the popular modelling show America’s Next Top Model. Contestants participate in developmental and training activities.

The women are groomed in posing, delivering a commercial, hosting and runway skills. The contestants also participate in different challenges.

The show consists of six episodes that air once a week on YouTube, Facebook and the Mango Tree official website. The show is currently in its third week.

The show will culminate with a live finale event that will feature the final two remaining women stomping down the runway.

“Although we live on an island, audiences are not restricted to certain countries, time zones or dates. With modern technology advancing everyday we have been able to give these young ladies exposure to the entire world. These young women are growing from this experience and will leave with a greater sense of who they are and an even greater sense of what it means to be apart of the modelling industry,” said producer Mark Winder.

“We looked for young women that possessed (ideal) model attributes - height, facial structure, personality - and we wanted to have a group of women that truly had a desire to learn and gain exposure for a competition like this,” said Mr Winder.

Along with his co-producer Kerel Pinder, Mr Winder felt the fashion scene in Grand Bahama was stagnant and in need of fresh events to shake things up.

“When events like this are held in Grand Bahama, the same women are the ones to participate. Although these women are very talented and can really model we wanted to see fresh faces and give other women the opportunity to get noticed,” Mr Winder said.

The winner of the competition will receive a two night stay at the Grand Lucayan Resort, a piece from Colombian Emeralds International, and a four page spread in Profiles 98 Magazine. They will also be named the official face of Mango Tree Media.

“This competition provides Bahamian women, who aspire to be models or are already modelling professionally, the opportunity to network, improve their modelling skills, gain experience and exposure,” he said.

Mango Tree Media has been operating on Grand Bahama for over five years with a heavy focus on fashion, events and wedding photography, videography, graphic and web design.

Mr Winder said they hope to make the competition an annual affair because it has the potential to create job opportunities for Bahamians who wish to pursue modelling careers.