T&T's Soowan Bramble is the first local model to be selected to participate in the annual Caribbean Style & Culture fashion showcase, staged by Karib Nation Inc as part of Caribbean Heritage Month in the United States.Bramble left on June 24 and is accompanied by fellow 2014 awardees designer Shaun Griffith-Perez and Guyanese model Nikata Baker.Earlier this year, Karib Nation Inc singled out Bramble for its Award of Excellence in Runway & Print Modelling. Previous local awardees have included designers Francis Hendy and Claudia Pegus.
Caribbean Style & Culture is being acclaimed as "one of the largest and most distinguished series of events to celebrate Caribbean Heritage Month," a commemoration which is endorsed by President Barack Obama. It is the fifth year that this event is being held and it will feature several activities, including its signature fashion showcase and awards ceremony on June 27 at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center-University of Maryland College Park Campus, the introduction of Couture In The Park on June 29 at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park and, for the second year, selected guests will also be invited to the White House after visiting the Congressional Black Caucus Leadership.The visit to the White House follows a private invitation-only VIP reception hosted by the Bahamas at its consulate in Washington, DC."This is the first time that the organisers have selected models for this prestigious award; so I am the first model from Trinidad to be honoured," said Bramble, one of the country's most sought-after models in recent years."I am beginning to do some more international work. I just did a job in Panama but haven't ventured onto the US circuit as yet. I have a few castings and meetings with US agencies already booked."
Cornel R Jones is the chairman of the Events Committee of Karib Nation Inc. Speaking to T&T Guardian by phone from the US he said: "Caribbean Style & Culture is a celebration of the great contributions of Caribbean-Americans to the economic, social and cultural landscape of the United States."Asked why Bramble was selected for the honour, Jones said, "We observed that she has been on the fashion circuit of the Caribbean and Mexico for some time. She seems to always be chosen for the top shows and by the best designers. Because of her consistency and her high profile we though she was the most deserving."Bramble said, "When I first got the news I was ecstatic. I have been working so hard in this industry that I think I deserve something like this; the hard work is finally paying off."