INTERNATIONAL model David Agbodji is living a dream. The France-born, New York-based face of renowned labels such as Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Perry Ellis, has finally landed the campaign of his dreams.

“Almost every kid growing up in New York get approached by a model scout or agent. I just never thought it was something for me. Then I saw an ad for Kenneth Cole featuring model Note George, and I thought this is something I can do,” Agbodji told the Jamaica Observer.

He says he was struck by the cool, masculine image projected in the advertisements. The fact that the model was a black man made him drop preconceived notions about the field of modelling and fashion.

It created a wanting to do such a campaign for Kenneth Cole.

“My agents could never understand why I have always wanted to do Kenneth Cole. I kept on saying, ‘go get it’ and they would tell me that I have all these other campaigns why am I insisting on this particular label. The other campaigns came to me, but I really wanted Kenneth Cole,” said Agbodji.

That desire became reality when he landed the Kenneth Cole national campaign for the 2013 spring/summer season.

“I finally did it, I guess everybody has a job like that. The one they hope will come their way, it’s a personal thing. I had done work for them in the past, but never did a national campaign,” he notes in his best New York City accent.

Agbodji was in Jamaica last weekend as guest of local agency Saint International for their Avant Garde Designer of the Year and Fashion Face model competitions, held at the Courtleigh Auditorium on Saturday.

During a reception at the Spanish Court Hotel in St Andrew on Friday, Agbodji had high praise for the local models, encouraging them to remain humble in the face of success.

“Humility is a great thing to have in this business. Models have to realise that because of their strong looks they can be intimidating to potential clients, so the more down to earth you are the better. It is always good for a model to be easy to work with and have a great personality, it gets you work.”

Had he not been ‘discovered’ while a student at New York University seven years ago, Agbodji says he would have been involved in the world of art.

“It would definitely be something to do with art. I shoot, paint… so it would be something in that vein. I did go to school to do art,” he explains.

A huge reggae music fan, he states that he is more into to “old school, roots reggae”.