Kingsley Cooper, having handed the reins of Pulse to his daughter, Safia Cooper, says he will now support her in fashion and modelling, among other aspects of the company.

Cooper, who remains chairman of Pulse, also announced that long-standing Fashion Director Romae Gordon has been appointed a director of the Pulse board.

“ I will guide the company going forward, in a chairman’s role, and will provide a measure of support to the new CEO, especially in fashion and modeling, along with our Fashion Director Romae Gordon, who has now been appointed a board director at Pulse,” said Cooper.

“I will also be handling various special projects, such as the new Peter Tosh museum and, most importantly, I will oversee our planned real estate expansion at Villa Ronai, St Andrew,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Pulse will this year be looking to send more models onto the international marketing to join models from Jamaica whom he said were currently “blazing”.

Giving an update on Pulse models, Cooper said Jeneil Williams “continues to be the top supermodel from the Caribbean in 2015, being specially recognised by Vogue and Models.com at the end of the year”.

“Apart from her landmark L’Oreal campaign that kicked off 2015, she did new campaigns for MAC, H&M and Nike, among several others, and a number of editorials, including her own story in SELF magazine. She ended the year starring in Macy’s Holiday campaign.” Cooper said.

“Oraine Barrett continued his stunning career as the top male model from the Caribbean in 2015, extending his long-established role as Ralph Lauren’s Polo star, capturing the current campaign for Lauren’s new high-tech workout suit, among several other assignments,” said Cooper, adding: “His Polo campaign is in magazines, billboards and newspapers everywhere.”

The Pulse chairman said one of his new stars, Francine James, was “the top new star from the Caribbean in the international market this year”, and “others who share the spotlight with her this year have been in the market for a number of years”.

“She started only last February and is yet to enter the US market. Her 2015 career highlights include December’s German Vogue, covers for John Lewis and Companere, campaigns and editorials for Esprit, 1981, Vlisco, H&M, Gucci, Elle, LNDR and Ahlens.”

Another new star, Alicia Burke, who entered the international market last November in London, “has already clocked up several assignments, including a stunning new editorial for 1883, now out. ‘She is set to do significant runway mileage at the collections in London, Milan and Paris starting in February.”

Cooper said Jeneil was hailed last October by Vogue “as one of five Jamaicans who changed the face of fashion”, and was one of only two — the other being Nadine Willis — “who were discovered, developed and managed by a Jamaican agency — both from Pulse. The other three were Stacy McKenzie, Robyn McPherson and Grace Jones, who were all discovered overseas.

He said that in December models.com (the industry website) recognised Jeneil’s achievements with a front page story which captured the attention of the market.

Cooper added that Nadine Willis was recognised by Vogue as one of the five Jamaicans who changed the face of fashion along with Jeneil. “In November, CNN hailed Nadine’s Gucci campaign as one of 15 advertising images that “shook society and changed the world”.

On Peter Tosh, Cooper said a museum honouring the life and work of the late reggae superstar and founding member of the critically acclaimed reggae group, the Wailers, will open its doors in Kingston, Jamaica this summer, at the newly renamed Peter Tosh Square at the The Pulse Centre on Trafalgar Road.

“The project is a joint-venture collaboration between the Peter Tosh Estate, Pulse Investments Ltd, and Andrea Marlene Brown, and it comes on the 40th anniversary of the commercial release of the classic and prophetic hit single Legalize It,” said. Cooper.