Kishyra Felix, With Confidence And Style, Becomes VI Female Model Of The Year 2016

ST. CROIX — They all had style; they all did their best to command the runway on Sunday at the Central High School gym, but according to the judges, Kishyra Felix, above, outdid her competitors to win JG Management’s VI Model of the Year competition, and with it an exclusive modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models in New York City, NY.

The show was a culmination of smaller affairs put on by former model and founder of JG Management, Jason Gardener. Other winners yesterday include Nekelah Murray, VI Child Model of the Year, Elijah Hood, VI Child Male Model of the Year, Michonde’ Chonde Delauney, VI Junior Model of the Year, Sevon J. Washington, VI Junior Male Model of the Year, and Henrique Francisco Jean, VI Male Model of the Year. The show included six divisions: child female and male, junior female and male, along with the female and male division.

“I’m feeling amazing! Like, oh my god! I’m on top of the world,” said Ms. Felix. The 21-year-old, who has been modeling since middle school, says she looks forward to representing the territory with class.

“I’ve always wanted to do this big and I have no doubt that I’m going to represent St. Croix and the Virgin Islands well,” she said. “Modeling is my forte; this is what I’m going to die doing.” Ms. Felix said she felt comfortable on stage yesterday, and referred to the modeling runway as her third home, second being Florida and first being St. Croix.

The male model winner, Mr. Jean, though the only competitor in his category, appeared blissful backstage, telling The Consortium that he worked hard to stay in the competition, even while he watched the other male challengers drop out.

“I worked so hard for this, and even if I didn’t have competitors tonight, I went for it and now I am the VI Male Model of the Year,” he said. Mr. Jean, 17, said he’s ready to go to New York and prove to the awaiting agents that he has what it takes to be a successful model.

For Mr. Gardener, who considers the past two events as successful as this year’s, the change year-to-year has been enhancements in fashion.

Henrique Francisco Jean, VI Male Model of the Year.

“I think the bar has been risen and I’m excited about the level of the agents — just hearing them say how beyond impressed they were with the models, the presentation, their walk — it feels great,” Mr. Gardener said.

The retired model said he believes every model is unique, “but I think the fashion keeps getting better and better every year.”

This year’s judges, all from the U.S. mainland, said they were impressed by the presentation, and lauded Mr. Gardener for creating a formidable modeling program here. The judges said choosing a winner last night was very hard, and although they’ve traveled around the world, last night’s affair was top-rated — from stage presentation, performance and even backstage organization.