The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

SINCE winning the Supermodel of the Bahamas competition in 2013, Patricka Ferguson has taken advantage of every opportunity afforded to her. She has participated in Vancouver’s Fashion Week, was an extra in “The Other Woman” movie starring Cameron Diaz, and most recently modelled for Michael Greeco, an award-winning commercial photographer who has done photo shoots with Kanye West, Will Smith, Chelsea Handler, Johnny Depp and more.

Another huge opportunity awaitsthe emerging model, who is currently preparing to make her debut on the runways of Fashion Week in New York next month.

Patricka’s modelling career started through her involvement in pageantry, which began at the age of nine. 

The Grand Bahama native entered a local pageant where she came first runner-up.

Her first pageant experience motivated her to enter the competition again. However, the second time around Patricka emerged as the winner and captured the crown as Miss Eight Mile.

When Oilinsha Models & Talent came to scout in Grand Bahama earlier this year, Patricka and her brother Shaquille showed up for the casting call and both were entered as contestants in the 2013 Supermodel of the Bahamas competition, which has a similar format to that of the hit TV show “America’s Next Top Model”. Patricka won the title in July.

Today, modelling is not just something to be checked off her bucket list, but it is quickly turning into a professional pursuit for Patricka.

Her time over the last weeks was spent labouring to adequately prepare herself for Fashion Weeks in New York and Miami.

“I have been doing a lot of practice sessions with Olinsha Coakley (founder of Supermodel of the Bahamas) for these two events. I am really excited about the opportunity,” she told Tribune Woman.

Back in May, Patricka got the opportunity to work with Mr Grecco during the Fstoppers Workshop held at Atlantis. The intimate and communal workshop that had limited class sizes, and featured at least 10 photography and videography instructors. Patricka said this was a one-of-a-kind experience.

“I participated in the FStoppers workshop at Atlantis. Michael Grecco was online searching for modelling agencies in the Bahamas and he came across Olinsha Coakley’s modelling agency. He messaged Olinsha and then Olinsha sent pictures of the models he had. Mr Grecco chose the models that he wanted to work with during the workshop. I was selected along with two other persons. I worked with him for five days and the other models worked with him for a day,” she said.

“I actually saw Mr Greeco’s work before online, but I never knew it was him. I researched him before I did the photo shoot and I saw where he has worked with a lot of stars including Will Smith, Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks. So it was such a privilege to work with him alongside all of those other persons he shot,” she said.

Patricka said she got a lot of helpful tips where a her modelling career is concerned during the five-day shoot with Mr Grecco.

“It was a great opportunity to work with someone like him. He is bubbly, he has an awesome personality. What I learned is that he tries to make each the shoots as real as possible. So instead of just posing, he wants his models to always be live and energetic and make it look like fun,” she said.

“I have learned that photo shoots are much better when they are not staged. This is the way Mr Grecco works and this is something I will keep in mind when take on any other jobs.”

Patricka is currently gearing up for one of the busiest times of her career as she is hoping to once again take part in Vancouver Fashion Week after walking the runways in New York and Miami.