It is 1:41 AM in Barbados and we are traversing on the iconic Second Street in front of Jamestown Bar & Grill. The tension and excitement in the atmosphere are palpable. Jamestown is a staple in Barbados nightlife that has garnered significant media attention due to Drake’s recent visit there. Across the street is another staple in Bajan nightlife – Red Door Lounge. It is apparently customary that on a Friday night, scores of people visit the two interchangeably as they are literally a stone’s throw apart from each other. Lines are long and moving slowly at both establishments, as patrons are subjected to Covid-19 precautionary measures before entering the buildings. As we wait patiently in line with masks on our faces, an immensely pulchritudinous woman emerges from the crowd. She is Lorin Warren. Her hair is in a bun and heads turn in no uncertain manner as she approaches us to meet and greet.
Enamored by her striking beauty, I shake her hand and boldly assert how much of a pleasure it is to finally meet her. Her unassuming demeanour was in no way reflective of a woman who just landed her first international placement as a model in one of the world’s most prestigious fashion magazines – Bazaar Magazine UK. It was refreshing! We make our way into the VIP section of Red Door Lounge and after a few laughs and drinks Lorin decides to call it an early night, promising that we will reconnect soon.
Lorin Warren’s self–efficacy and humility is anchored in the fact that her journey as a model is a story of triumph over insecurity. Her story has enabled her to possess tremendous empathy for young girls who may face similar insecurities like the ones she had growing up, primarily about her height. Standing at 5’10 it is easy to see why the fashion world would willingly embrace Lorin now but she sensitizes us to the fact that growing up, being a tall girl had many undesirable moments. She reckoned that “Height shaming was definitely and unfortunately quite prevalent. I was teased about my height growing up which made me hate it and feel extremely self-conscious. Everyone in my class was shorter than I was. I was always placed at the back of the line or in the back of a dance and as a young girl, I always felt that being tall meant you were last. I started to love my height when I began modelling and the journey of truly loving myself for everything that I am. Now, I wouldn’t trade my height for anything. To the girls out there experiencing this, I urge you to embrace your God-given gift, stand tall and be confident because tall is beautiful. You definitely stand out in the crowd”
Rest assured that Lorin’s encouragement to young girls is not coming from a pretentious place. When she is not in front of the camera or on the runway, she spends her time in the classroom as a school teacher at the St. Gabriel’s School in St. Micheal, Barbados. Her passion for youth development started while she was coaching swimming a decade ago. She fondly reminisces on a moment of uncanny foreshadowing that affirmed her current path. “Funny enough, when I was 11, my J4 teacher Mrs. Puckerin told me that I was going to be a great teacher one day and I laughed at the time because I wanted to be a vet. I guess she knew me better than I knew myself at that time.” Lorin realized that the process of impartation to young people, was one that she found deeply fulfilling and therefore opted to pursue teaching in conjunction with being a swim coach.
A fantastic example for the children she interacts with, Lorin had a rounded upbringing herself. She not only swam competitively, but was fervently involved in the performing arts and visual arts since she was seven years old. Lorin is unequivocal about expressing how this shaped her character, stating: “Being a performer has played a huge part in making me a well-rounded individual. It has instilled a high level of discipline, time management, cooperation and persistence in me. From a young age, you have to be responsible for your own things, arrive on time (which means 15 minutes early), warm-up yourself, remember choreography (for sometimes up to 7 dances), apply corrections and follow proper etiquette. I’m so grateful for the solid foundation being a dancer has given me and how it has molded the person I am today.”
Lorin is a multifarious creative and as a visual artist she was awarded three NIFCA awards for her paintings and drawings. She recounts: “I started to discover myself as an artist, identifying what I was strongest at and most passionate about. I ended up choosing drawing and painting for CXC. My teacher submitted a few of my pieces to NIFCA and I received two bronze medals and one silver medal.” Despite her profound artistic capabilities, Lorin’s late adolescence was marred by hellacious personal struggles. In true Warrior Warren spirit characterized by a steely resilience, she returned to the arts not only with a reinvigorated spirit but with a new passion to pair it with – modeling.
Despite her first international magazine placement coming in 2020, it is 2018 that she acknowledges as her breakthrough year. She thoughtfully reflects, stating: “During my years in secondary school, I was constantly being encouraged to model, then I finally did my first photoshoot at the age of 18 with a photographer named Alex Jackson. I was extremely nervous but also loved every moment of it. At the time, I wasn’t in the best place mentally and I had a few things hindering me from going forward primarily my lack of belief in myself. In 2018, I truly started my journey of self-discovery. I left behind my hindrances, opened my mind to new experiences and faced a lot of my fears head on. I gained a lot more self-confidence and with the encouragement of my family and friends, I started to take modelling more seriously and became a lot more comfortable in front the camera.”
As a woman of faith and an active member of the Living Water Community, Lorin would be the first to acknowledge that her ascension in the fashion industry is not a coincidence but a result of favor and alignment. Ironically, the same edition of her Bazaar UK feature hosts the undisputed Queen of Barbados on the cover – Rihanna! With unending gratitude, she posits that: “I loved working with Nikkibiedes and her team and it was an honor to be part of her new collection. Being featured in Bazaar UK has been a truly encouraging moment.” For Lorin, this is just the initiation! Now that she has grown in confidence, she has her eyes set on an international breakthrough as a model. She calmly asserts: “I would love to do more editorial work and hopefully be a part of more campaigns and features. I also enjoy the runway so I’d love more opportunities to do that. The fashion industry in Barbados has come a long way and I hope to keep growing with it. I aspire one day to travel and model internationally. I’m keeping my mind open to new opportunities and look forward to what lies ahead of me.”
Lorin’s story is an emblematic triumph of a woman who has successfully navigated through her identity politics. Though she is not a finished article, her unquestionable beauty signals a poignant caution to the world of fashion. Watch out! Lorin Warren is coming!
