THIRTY-TWO finalists of Saint International’s Fashion Face of the Caribbean Model Competition traded the runway for the microphone at Morgan’s Harbour in Kingston for a night of Fashionably Karaoke on Friday.

The event, designed to showcase contestants and inject fun into the serious business of modelling, received a good turnout of music fans and celebrities.

“I didn’t expect this type of turn out,” said Deiwght Peters, Saint International’s president/CEO.

“Modelling isn’t just about looks. A lot of it is having a personality that will connect with judges, designers, photographers, and the public in general,” he continued.

The audience comprised reggae singer Denyque, Saint’s past Fashion Face of the Caribbean winners Korey Rowe and Shavan Frazer, along with several of the fashion designers who will be competing for top honours in the Avant Garde Designer Of The Year contest.

After introductions, the show got off to quick and fun start with Morgan’s Habour owner Neville Blythe jumping into Fats Domino’s Blueberry Hill after being serenaded Happy Birthday by host dancehall artiste D’Angel. Contestants headed straight for their favourite song once the floor was open to them. Given the age of the models, from 15 to 24, it was little surprise that the music selection never strayed too far from hits songs from Katy Perry, John Legend and Adele.

As with all karaoke, attempts ranged from hilariously bad to crowd-pleasingly good, but all was taken in good fun as the contestants mixed things up with surprising solos and duet performances, while a few made the stretch to musical trio.

Things should get a bit more serious for the 32 contestants as the Fashion Face of the Caribbean finals is scheduled for the Courtleigh Auditorium this weekend on March 16.