MONTEGO BAY, St James – Businessman Charles Douglas has vowed to keep his models in skimpy school uniforms on his ‘Rip the Runway’ fashion show, despite stinging criticisms from educators here.

“I have no regrets about it and I will do it again because the use of the uniforms is just a fashion statement,” said Douglas, the principal of the Sassy International outfit, which promotes the weekly event.

Several school principals, including principal of the St James High School, Joseph Williams, and Ida Rhoden, the principal of Farm Primary and Junior High condemned the sleazy depiction of their schools’ uniform at the show.

“This should not be and it is sending the wrong signal,” Rhoden told the Observer West. The Ministry of Education also rapped the practice.

But Douglas yesterday maintained that the educators were overreacting, as no student, in their right mind would go to school in the ‘fashionable’ version of the uniforms.

The inaugural staging of ‘Rip the Runway’ began on August 22, at the Aqua Sol Theme Park on Gloucester Avenue.

The contest, which is scheduled to end on November 21, began with 40 females – mostly students – between the ages of 16 and 22, Douglas said.

Five girls are left in the competition which offers several prizes, including $100,000 in cash to the top model and cellphones to the top five contestants.

Meanwhile, Douglas said, plans are in high gear for the final staging of the sponsored event, which will feature several reggae artistes including Chino, Laden, Charly Blacks and Ce’cile.