kadia 'Kadie Kade' Turnbull seen here in action in her designer piece at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York on September 9, 2013. Photo: Provided

Kadie Kade with fellow VIslander Audrey Blake at a casting call for couture designer Cory Tran. Photo: Norman Allen

Terry Donovan (left) of Summer Sizzle BVI and renowned fashion designer Cesar Galindo. Photo: Norman Allen

Kadia Turnbull (right) with Kristian Loren, the designer of the piece she wore for Summer Sizzle BVI 2013. 'She loved the way I worked it,' Ms Turnbull remarked. Photo: Norman Allen

Some of the models from the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Photo: Provided

Calisha Cayonne who, along with Kadia Turnbull and Audrey Blake, represented the [British] Virgin Islands at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week on September 9, 2013. Photo: Provided

She is also returning home with the confidence that owing to her exposure at the prestigious event on September 9, 2013 she will be seeing lots more lights, cameras and action in the near future.

Speaking exclusively to Virgin Islands News Online following the after party last evening, Ms Turnbull related that there was a slight change to the presentation as instead of the quick runway appearance they were made to pose with their designer pieces.

The challenge for Ms Turnbull there was not with striking various poses for the cameras for an entire hour but rather to contain her coughing as she had caught a cold on arriving in New York.

“We ended up doing it presentation style where our posing skills were needed, so was an ability to conceal a cold in an air-conditioned room. I handled it splendidly, I had the coughing under control. We were on our feet for one hour. From this many business cards and interviews came, I guess because they had the opportunity to actually see us work the outfits for one hour,” Ms Turnbull related to Virgin Islands News Online.

We must mention that Joan Rivers and the Fashion Police team were also in attendance at the event and it brings a sigh of relief that Ms Turnbull managed to keep her coughing under control!

Turnbull and the other models, including Calisha Cayonne and Audrey Blake also of the [British] Virgin Islands, were given lots of compliments from guests and other designers “who came pouring in after we put on our regular threads and met our folks in front of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week building at the Lincoln Centre… We were treated as super models at the after party, photographers and cameras were everywhere.”

The VI beauty noted that she was also approached by an official photographer from what is regarded as the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company, L’Oreal, who is looking forward to doing business with her in the future.

Ms Turnbull was given the enviable opportunity to model at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week by well-known fashion designer Cesar Galindo.

“Spectators were highly impressed with the amount of black models. They applauded Cesar Galindo for it because right now Naomi Campbell and Iman (real name Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid) are fighting publicly for black models to be treated equally stating that today there are even less black models on the runway than back in the past and that designers are being lazy in terms of creativity,” Ms Turnbull also shared with Virgin Islands News Online.

In fact, the 58-year-old former supermodel Iman, along with Naomi Campbell and Bethann Hardison, recently sent a letter to the governing bodies of each fashion capital which highlights a lack of racial equality in the fashion world and claims it is becoming an increasing problem.

Iman believes there was more ethnic diversity when she first started out in the modelling world than there is now. ''There were more black models working in the 70s than there are in 2013. This a time where silence is not acceptable at all. If the conversation cannot be had publicly in our industry, then there is something inherently wrong, Iman has publicly stated.

Iman, Naomi and Bethan are currently campaigners for the Diversity Coalition, which seeks to create equality in the modelling industry.

Meanwhile, Kadie Kade’s trip was also made possible by LIME BVI who assisted with her travelling expenses. LIME also recently announced that the model was chosen as the first beneficiary of the LIME for Local and Talented initiative. This also entitled her to a $500 cheque and she can look forward to being further promoted on the local scene through other LIME initiatives.

“I represented the BVI, LIME and myself very well,” Ms Turnbull stated and added that she was very happy with the turnout of things and it was now to sort out all the business cards and prepare herself for the next business trip, which she hopes would not be too long from now.

See previous article posted September 9, 2013

VI model ‘Kadie Kade’ takes to the runway this afternoon in NY

Today, September 9, 2013 brings the big moment for Virgin Islands model Kadia ‘Kadie Kade’ Turnbull who is set to take to the runway this afternoon at the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at New York’s Lincoln Center.

Ms Turnbull has been given the enviable opportunity by renowned fashion designer Cesar Galindo, who spotted her at the recent Summer Sizzle BVI 2013.

The young beauty told Virgin Islands News Online this morning that she has the flu but is hyped about the experience that awaits her. “I’m feeling much better. Can’t wait. I am excited, cannot wait to hit the runway,” Ms Turnbull said.

The fashion show starts at 2:30 P.M.

But even before she hits the runway, the experience for Ms Turnbull has been very encouraging as she was able to meet and interact with a number of models and fashion designers, including Kristian Loren, the designer of the piece she wore for Summer Sizzle BVI 2013. “She loved the way I worked it,” Ms Turnbull remarked.

Kadie Kade also attended a casting call for couture designer Cory Tran for Couture Fashion Week at the New Yorker Hotel.

Meanwhile, Terry Donovan of Summer Sizzle BVI is also in New York and has been offering much support to Ms Turnbull. “Terry was there every step of the way to make sure we were sorted. He emailed us everything we needed to know, updates, the whole works to make sure we leave an impressionable mark.”

And of course Ms Turnbull was able to meet Mr Galindo in person. “Cesar is a fabulous designer. His pieces are things I can see myself wearing on any given occasion.”

The 22-year-old college student, Kadia ‘Kadie Kade’ Turnbull, who not only been invited to model during the very popular New York City Fashion Week but was also declared the first winner of the LIME for Local and Talented initiative, which ensured she made her way to New York, USA.