Eleven beautiful women. One majestic greathouse. Racks of glamorous dresses. It’s fabulosity come to life. As the dimming glow of the sun gives way to a humid evening, Devon House is in uncharacteristic mode: teeming with activity at 6:00 pm (hours after the manor’s official closing time), with stiletto-heeled feet criss-crossing the historic property’s hardwood floors. Gathered for the reunion are former Miss Jamaica World (MJW) and Miss Jamaica Universe (MJU) pageant queens, and trailblazing models who rocked many a local advertising campaign, international magazine covers and music videos. Still head-turners more than a decade later, the women, who are now mothers, business and tourism execs, a pilot, a doctor, a polo player, a talent agency owner, model agency manager and a fashion designer, are only too eager to play dress-up for a photo-call in the iconic century-old manor.

With the Jamaica OBSERVER CELEBRATES FASHION’S NIGHT OUT (FNO) but days away, the fashion-loving femmes look through high-end dressing gown options from Flirt Boutique (two opt for Drenna Luna dresses instead; while one wears her own Calvin Klein LBD) in-between checking out the grand, well-preserved rooms of the Devon House mansion. Ahead of the group photo session, the ladies exchange kisses, hugs, and get caught up in girl talk at the Permanent Cosmetics Studio & Boutique, while ace make-up artist Racquel Jenkins Moss-Solomon, her assistant Jehan ‘Toni Xing’ Wanliss and hairstylist Lisa Hutchinson craft their glam looks.

Kimberly Mais-Issa, Jamaica’s first true top model and MJU 1991 (who bagged major ad campaigns in Japan in the 1980s and 1990s), and Michelle Subaran (nee Hall) discuss their children’s schooling. Imani Duncan, who brought her infant son Aidan along (much to the delight of the other women), is her typical animated self and chats up former Campion College schoolmate Nicole Haughton. Dr Saphire Dropinski (nee Longmore) and Angelie Martin-Spencer sit by the open window in the manor’s sewing room to get whiffs of fresh air and engage in small talk. The last to arrive, Romae Gordon easily joins the conversation, planting a light kiss on Sandra Kennedy’s cheek. Eschew all thoughts of diva behaviour (save the poses they effortlessly slip into for our photog). It’s a fashionable feast of high glamour and the ladies know it. Once they slip into their gowns, we hear talk of channelling Vogue and Marilyn Monroe from some. We quietly smile. No, no ladies… it’s the Style Observer.

Shot on location at Devon House, 26 Hope Road, Kingston 10.

Make-up: Racquel Jenkins Moss-Solomon and Jehan Wanliss of Permanent Cosmetics Studio & Boutique, Suite 13, Eden Gardens, 39 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 5.

Telephone: 946-2507

Hair: Lisa Hutchinson — Lisa’s Full Service Salon, 1 1/2 Altamont Crescent, Kingston 5. Telephone: 816-9408

Dresses & Accessories: Flirt Boutique, Shop 12, Manor Park Plaza, Kingston 8. Telephone: 931-9332

SO would also like to thank the Devon House team of marketing manager Andre Reid and tour guides Barbara Beckford and Norma Rhoden for their invaluable assistance.

Devon House will celebrate 130 years of its existence during Heritage Week, October 10 to 18, 2011. For information on weddings, events or tours at Devon House, call 926-0815 or e-mail marketingandevents@devonhousejamaica.com