SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD Francine James walked away with the coveted Caribbean Fashion Model title at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in St Andrew on Sunday.

The leggy 5ft 8.5in model’s win signals the beginning of a modelling contract with local agency Pulse and an opportunity to launch an international career like her predecessors, including Jaunel McKenzie, Gaye McDonald and Oraine Barrett.

The evening’s other winners were Chrisna Chue, who copped Petite Model title; Ryan Stewart, Male Face; and Marsha Alexander, who took top honours in the Full Figure category.

The runners-up in the Fashion Model category were Shanice Cutino and Janelle Watson. For the Petite Model, Tanecia Murray and Shanique Robinson, were second and third, respectively; while Raquel Ffrench and Collena Bryan, were first and second runners-up among the Full Figure ladies. Jamell Smith and Alex Graham were second and third, respectively in the Male Face category.

Pulse’s CEO Kingsley Cooper, whose firm has hosted the event for more than three decades, was happy with Sunday evening’s event.

He said a New York-based model agency representative — Tyron Barrington — was in attendance and offered a few contracts.

“He was very impressed and offered contracts to a couple of the girls. He is also a casting director and presently looking models for an Avon commercial. He has expressed interest in some of them,” Cooper told the Jamaica Observer.

Part of the evening’s entertainment came from Caribbean Model Search (CMS) Dancers, who displayed some of the latest dance moves.

Model hopeful, Sadika Thompson’s solo performance drew a few laughs as she ran off stage after a few words in her song. She returned, composed and mimed it to the end.