Denham Town model gets big runway break
Kimali Morgan is a celebrity of sorts in his Denham Town, west Kingston, community. Morgan, a lifelong resident of the Kingston inner-city, made his international runway debut in March for Balenciaga’s Fall/Winter collection.
“People look up to me as a youth from the ghetto who made a big break in the international fashion world ... They treat me differently but show me a lot of respect,” the 6’2” tall model told THE STAR.
“I always have guys and girls in the area asking me about modelling and how they too can join. I encourage them to give it a try as being part of Saint helped to build my selfconfidence and allows me to travel to places I never dreamed I would have been.”
Morgan is starring in the latest advertising campaign for one of the global fashion industry’s biggest labels, Balenciaga.
AMAZING FEELING
“I’m so excited and proud to see myself in a Balenciaga campaign. It’s my very first campaign and it’s an amazing feeling,” the striking, newly anointed international fashion star shared in an interview.
“Balenciaga flew me to Los Angeles to shoot the campaign in June with photographer Charlie White. We shot over three days and I had five different looks. I was the only black model,” he said.
Morgan was among eight Saint International models directly booked by the model agency’s founder and CEO, Deiwght Peters, for the Balenciaga runway show in March. It was a historic moment not only for Saint, but for the Caribbean fashion industry, as there had never been a previous occasion where as many models from a single agency in the region appeared for a major fashion label. So taken was Balenciaga’s indemand stylist Lotta Volkova with Morgan’s angular, distinctive face, he was chosen shortly thereafter to be part of the company’s advertising campaign. “I appreciate Lotta and the entire team at Balenciaga and they treated me exceptionally well. They are loving and caring and were always checking on me to make sure I felt comfortable on set,” Morgan said. Morgan was discovered five years ago by Peters at Denham Town High School, where the model agent had gone to scout fresh female and male model hopefuls. Looking forward, Balenciaga’s hot new Jamaican fashion star, who loves playing football in his spare time, has his sights set on working with other acclaimed labels. “I would love to work with Burberry and Dolce & Gabanna for runway shows and campaigns, but beyond that, five years from now, I see myself living overseas with my own real estate business.”