‘Jay’: Model and asp

Parmanand ‘Jay’ Ramcharran is trending in Guyana’s modeling circles; it is unlikely that there is a renowned modeling agency or designer in Guyana who has never heard of him.

But it has not always been that way even though such a polished physique being strutted on the catwalk makes it unbelievable that this young man was once labeled “unfit” for modeling.

The first time The Scene saw Jay he was rocking the stage in such elegance at the Guyana Fashion Week (GFW) at the Pegasus Hotel, that no other model looked more confident. During a recent interview Jay-as he prefers to be called- gave us the 411 (all the facts) on his life before becoming a model and all that it took to get him here.

“I was a nerd in school and was termed the ‘business geek’. I was invisible in school except for the kids who picked on me. But wanting to stand out and have a sense of fashion I decided that when I finished secondary school I’d do modelling. I told my friends and they laughed at me saying it was impossible because I’m short and [too skinny],” Jay recalled.

He started modelling shortly after leaving school but for small agencies that flopped. He later decided that he wanted to be a part of GFW. Auditioning for GFW is no small thing as this fashion extravaganza is not only labelled the biggest in Guyana but one of the biggest in the Caribbean and the second longest running Caribbean wide so not everyone gets in; only the best.

Leaving his mother and two siblings in Williamsburg, Corentyne, Berbice, Jay set out for Georgetown. At the audition he was ridiculed by some of the other models, who not only had the required height but physique as well. He was told by them to just go home since they were sure he wouldn’t make it. Paying them no mind he auditioned and was the very first model to be eliminated that day. Walking out he passed those very models with ‘I told you so’ smirks on their faces.

Feeling defeated Jay was prepared to go home but Keron Noble (one of the GFW committee members) invited him to attend the rehearsals. Jay, who had never wanted something so bad in his life before, kept going and trying and learning and perfecting until he found himself among some of Guyana’s top models strutting the GFW stage at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre for the celebration of the golden jubilee.

Jay is so passionate about what he does that the second he hears of an audition he shows; some never happen.

The 20-year-old, who celebrated his birthday this past Monday is now one of Guyana’s top models and one of the most preferred choices at that. He currently works as a model full time. Most shows are on weekends and sometimes his agenda is packed with five shows in a day. He’s also a brand ambassador for Vintage Clothing by Alexander DaSilva. A pi ha

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