It has been incredible to witness the evolution of carnival across the region over the last 12 months. Each island is now developing its own carnival identity, and it’s a delight to see how the standard of costumes and overall carnival executions have ascended astronomically in recent times.
Despite the undeniable growth, a common concern for carnival lovers is the reuse of the same talent across the various islands for photoshoots and band launches. While we patiently await the ‘changing of the guard’ in this facet of carnival marketing, it’s still important to continuously extol the talents who work tirelessly to execute the vision of carnival costume designers. Without further ado, and in no particular order, we present our top 10 carnival models to watch for 2024.
Marieange Bovell
Carnival costume modelling requires a strong dominance over rudimentary principles of the craft, such as understanding body symmetry, pose variation, and conjuring alluring facial expressions that capture the designer’s theme. Based on the similarities, models who have a background in dance have been known to excel in carnival modelling, and Marieange Bovell epitomizes this case study. When you’re on top, there is no need for comparison, and at this point, it would be remiss of us to deny that Marieange Bovell is formidably in a class by herself. Fueled by a new love for life and motherhood, Marieange Bovell has already recaptured our hearts and is poised to have an excellent 2024 season.
Shena Gurley
Shena Gurley has been a fantastic example of what consistency can yield in carnival modelling. Her unique facial features pair well with the grace and humility she conducts herself with on and off the camera. The lifestyle of so many carnival models is consumed by ‘bacchanal,’ but Gurley has managed to establish her presence in the market without that kind of stigma being attached to her. When she gets in a zone while modelling, she transforms, and from there, it’s over! The frequency of her carnival bookings regionally says it all, but masqueraders are certainly not tired of seeing her and won’t be anytime soon.
Angelique Jackson
Since the inception of her successful event series entitled MVP in Tampa, Florida, Angelique Jackson took a brief hiatus from modeling. She’s a phenomenal example of a woman who is perfectly efficient on and off the camera. The Asian-Caribbean community is an underrepresented community in our region, and nobody embodies that unique, ethnic beauty better than Angelique Jackson.
Megan Mcnaughton
This dynamic powerhouse is the ultimate showstopper. Typically, top-tier carnival modelling is dominated by Trinidadian talent, but Megan Mcnaughton has pushed the envelope forward for Jamaican carnival models. When iconic designers like Shawn Dhanraj included her for Oro Luxury Carnival in Grenada, it forced the region to embrace her as one of the best.
Virginia Sanhouse
For Virginia Sanhouse, the macro-influencer status and flawless physique speak volumes, but her induction into the carnival world represents a greater joy; that is, cultural integration. The Caribbean and Latin America have been divided for too long despite the unending historical and cultural similarities. Virginia Sanshouse is paving the way for cultural unity through carnival, and we love to see it.
Marissa Williams
Marissa Williams possesses a scintillating aura and fierce demeanor that has been a longtime favorite for carnival designers. She has defied the typical trajectory of most models and has carved out a unique lane of sustainability for herself, that only a melanin queen of her divine caliber could. Her longstanding involvement in the Tribe Carnival setup is unprecedented, but her inclusion in Baje Intl for the recently concluded Crop Over in Barbados proves that her experience will perpetually create demand for her services.
Solana Mitchell
This USVI native is poised to become the next biggest carnival model from the region. Silently, multiple bands are in a bidding war for Solana Mitchell because the immense charm she exudes, resonates far beyond the pictures she takes.
Briana Smith
Briana Smith is the definition of a phenomenon. Her growth trajectory over the last three years as a model has been astronomical, and nobody else is more deserving of hitting the 1 million follower mark on Instagram than Briana Smith. The purest facet of Briana’s career is undoubtedly her energy. Anyone who has ever been on set with Briana Smith can attest to the fact that her down-to-earth personality is a huge driving factor for clients to continue working with her in carnival. For 2024, We would love to see her become more involved in Jamaica Carnival, since her roots are deeply embedded in that culture.
Qimmah Russo
One of the factors that makes Gen X Carnival so important to the carnival space is their ability to bridge the gap between celebrity culture and carnival culture. Every time Qimmah Russo is included in the carnival campaigns through Gen X, she produces something mesmerizing and awe-inspiring. It would be amazing to see her get involved in more carnival spectacles across the region. She is revered around the world as a fitness influencer, and the results from her discipline reflect beautifully in carnival costumes, substantiating the subtle nuances of gynaeolatry which carnival promotes.
Jordanne Brown
Numerous models in Trinidad should consider themselves very fortunate that Jordanne Brown is more committed to her professional and academic ascension than she is to modelling, or it would be over for them! Everything Jordanne Brown does has a touch of excellence embedded in it, and though her schedule didn’t allow her the opportunity to make it home for Tribe band launch this year, rest assured she will be on the road, and other bands in various islands have their eyes on her for Carnival 2024.
