Fresh from a successful Caribbean Fashionweek, the region's fashion and beauty powerhouse, Pulse, opens another extensive season of model scouting with the launch of its annual Caribbean Model Search (CMS) exercise.

The premier platform for the Caribbean's international fashion luminaries, the 26-year-old CMS event has been credited with launching the careers of the region's most successful supermodels, including multiple Vogue and world number one black model Jaunel McKenzie. A joint winner of CMS 2002 with Nell Robinson, McKenzie gained global recognition starring in multiple campaigns for clients from Armani to Valentino. Robinson, who herself was declared 'The Body' after her major cover triumph with ARENA magazine, has also done international campaigns for Rimmel cosmetics, Victoria's Secret, among others.

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The worldwide face of Ralph Lauren's Polo line, Oraine Barrett, was also discovered and developed through CMS. Sports Illustrated's Carla Campbell, M.A.C cosmetic's Nicole Grey and French Vogue star Gaye McDonald are among several other stars from the region's biggest talent search. Undoubtedly, the hottest CMS alumna of the moment is the fast-rising star Jeneil Williams, who has been storming collections in New York and Paris, leading campaigns for major fashion players Benneton L'Oreal and Aldo. She also has the distinction of being the only Jamaican to make the pages of the exclusive all-black edition of Italian Vogue, published earlier this year.

Several faces have already been reviewed in a bid to compete for the four titles up for grabs at the August finale. Entries for the local leg of CMS 2009 are currently being accepted at the Pulse headquarters on Trafalgar Road in New Kingston.

In addition to the open call for models to star in the live show, the season also welcomes the start of the local CMS Reality TV competition, which will see Pulse chiefs Kingsley Cooper and Romae Gordon selecting contenders for the CMS TV title. Last year's local CMS TV winner, Crystal Patterson, went on to compete against international CMS model representatives from Guyana, Barbados, Connecticut, Trinidad, Guadeloupe and Miami for the regional grand CMS title.