The finalists for the Caribbean/international leg of Pulse's Caribbean Model Search (CMS) Reality TV show arrived in the island at the weekend to start taping the TV show which will air around the Caribbean and in US, UK and African markets starting in April. CMS is the region's largest and most successful model search attracting thousands of entrants from around the Caribbean and other parts of the world. Last year, the event was extended to the United Kingdom and the 2009-10 event will add parts of Latin America, Africa and wider Europe to the list of countries represented.

The women represent Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, New York, Florida, Guadeloupe, The Bahamas and Guyana. They are Crystal Patterson, a 16-year-old Excelsior High School student representing Jamaica; Royann Ambrister, a 17-year-old aspiring business major from The Bahamas; Tryce Scully, a 19-year-old economics/pre-medicine student representing Florida; Meleesa Payne, a 23-year-old dance and Spanish student from Guyana; Chantel Davis, a 20-year-old international studies student representing New York; Kerry Ann Murphy, a 20-year-old stylist from the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago; 16-year-old high school student Jodesha Nedd from Barbados and 18-year-old cosmetology student Olivia Mekel from Guadeloupe. The winner will take the title of the 'Caribbean's Next Supermodel for 2009'. She will also get her international career moving by visiting New York model agencies.

Series of activities

While in Jamaica, the models will participate in a series of activities and challenges, which will be filmed on location at a number of venues including the Hilton Kingston hotel, Star Fish Resort in Trelawny, Villa Ronai in Stony Hill, The Caribbean Fashion Centre at Pulse and Morgan's Harbour hotel.

On Sunday night, they were hosted at a dinner at Café Aubergine, one of Jamaica's leading gourmet restaurants, where they were formally introduced to two members of the CMS panel of judges, Pulse CEO Kingsley Cooper and Pulse general manager and former international model Romae Gordon.

Last year, Jamaican CMS TV star Rochelle Notice beat models from Barbados, Cayman Islands, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominican Republic, London and Miami to emerge as the grand winner. Interestingly, since the Caribbean competition inception in 2002, the winner has always come from Jamaica - Nell Robinson, Jaunel McKenzie, Oraine Barrett, Ghinelle Germain, Gaye McDonald, Shevolee Bell and Notice.

Guest model slated to make an appearance this season is Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Carla Campbell.

Top fashion talent

Pulse's CMS has produced some of the Caribbean's top fashion talent. These include Jamaicans Jaunel McKenzie, Nell Robinson, Oraine Barrett, Nadine Willis, Carla Campbell, Gaye McDonald, Jeneil Williams and Sunna Gottshalk, as well as Tenille Stoute and Alex King of Barbados. Earlier stars discovered and developed by Pulse include Kimberley Mais, Angela Neil, Hector Lincoln, Romae Gordon, Lois Samuels, Justine Willoughby and Althea Laing.

CMS is produced by Pulse Investments Limited at its Trafalgar TV studios and editing facility. The CMS production team is headed by British TV producer Mesha Stewart, supported by a Jamaican team including Janelle Dyer (producer), Eldorado Mullings, O'Knegi Holness and Ceon Clarke (cameras and sound), Alethia Madden and Lorraine March (production assistants), Paul March (hair and makeup), Celene Tyson (presenter) and Shakera Campbell (editor).

Kingsley Cooper and Romae Gordon, two of the CMS judges. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer