The Tribune

By Arthia Nixon

The Ambassador Agency

CHICAGO, Illinois – Bahamian model Kenneth Kerr is getting the last laugh after having transformed himself from high school dud to sought-after stud.

So sought-after in fact that he received a personal invitation from organisers and designers for a gig at Chicago’s exclusive Men’s Fashion Week.

It’s been a whirlwind experience for Kenneth, who hails from his nation’s second city of Freeport in Grand Bahama. What is now a successful modelling career started off with him simply posting a few photos of his new physique, a symbol of pride and testament to his new healthy fitness lifestyle, on the internet.

Before long, the oversized T-shirts were tossed and he began posing in swimsuits, shorts and tanks, using hashtags to highlight the designers. His social media Cinderella story is getting a happily ever after with designers inviting him to participate in shows in Florida, California, New York and Chicago. Not bad for someone who welcomes tourists to his country as an immigration officer.

“Being selected as a model for Team Body has been one of the best feelings ever,” said Kenneth. “Not only was I one of the 29 selected from a group of over 160, but I was selected be a part of Chicago’s first ever all Men’s Fashion Week. Being a model and being a part of the team was one of the most rigorous, demanding, but most rewarding experiences. Once each month, we met for four hours to rehearse scenes, runway combinations and fittings. This meant that I had to travel to Chicago from the Bahamas each month.”

For Kenneth, the travelling was well worth it. He had the chance to walk for designers such as Andrew Christian, Undergear, Llewellyn, VG Brand, Ray Vicente and many others. However, he is still adjusting to being considered an official international male model.

“‘Official male model’,” he repeats with a chuckle, “I like that title actually. But having a portfolio is something every model should have. It speaks for you even when you are not present. But to be referred to as an (official) male model is still something I have to get used to. Growing up, I was always the tall, slinky kid with the big nose and broad shoulders. I guess I found a way to let that work for me.”

And it is working for him, giving the jet-setter opportunities to fly to multiple destinations for work.

“Aside from Chicago, I visited and worked in cities such as Los Angeles, Palm Springs, California,” he said. “I’ve done shoots in South Beach, Miami as well as Atlanta, and recently I travelled to New York where I had the opportunity to have a one-on-one with one of the most sought-after African American male models, Broderick Hunter.”

To him, though, Ken Kerr is a brand, separate and apart from the social butterfly he reveals to his close friends and colleagues.

“As a person/model you are a brand, so everything you do should reflect your brand so that when people see or speak about you they know what you represent,” he said. “Ken Kerr represents a strong, up-and-coming male model with a passion for health and fitness. So almost everything I do reflects that,” he said.

“I enjoy (runway) modelling because I get to help bring a designer’s work to life. As a model, I’m a canvas so most times through my body I’m required to tell a story or bring a message across without saying a single word. Being photographed and being on the runway allows me to do that. I guess you can say I love telling stories.”

And coming from a culture that is known to host several major pageants annually, Kenneth points out that mode;ling is a totally different world and that in order to succeed, especially to make it from a small country to the international scene, one must make an investment.

“You have to invest in yourself and in your career because it’s the only way you will get ahead in this industry or anywhere in life,” he said. “You must always look for new ways to put yourself and your name out there and step out of your comfort zone. Lastly, you must find your niche; that is, you must find what works best for you and what makes you memorable.”

“Anything is possible, so I won’t say no,” Kenneth said when asked if he is ready to pursue modelling full-time. “I mean a year ago if you had told me I’d get to work with Broderick Hunter or walk in a runway show with Victoria’s Secret model Sessile Lopez I wouldn’t have paid it any mind. But the reality and beauty of the universe has reminded me that with hard work, determination and a love for what you do anything is possible.”