Focus on Fashion
Bahamas' Ajayi Ballentine Clarke makes international modeling debut
By Robbin Whachell, Editor, The Bahamas Weekly
May 19, 2014 - 2:57:41 PM

Ajayi Ballentine Clarke of Nassau, Bahamas in Paris, France seen center with fashion celebrity, Vincent McDoom who cast 'AJ' as the Face of Labo Ethnik 2014. Photos by: Frédéric Bukajlo DESIGNER(photo 1) Didier Drogba & Co by HOM (Photo 2) Forerunner DESIGNER (Photo 3): Marie Laure Colrat JEWELRY DESIGNER (photo 1): Marie-Laure Colrat

Twenty-two year  old Ajayi Ballentine Clarke of Nassau, Bahamas has just made his international debut on the runway in Paris, France at the Labo Ethnik (Paris) Fashion and Lifestyle event. He was cast for the show by casting director and Saint Lucian Parisian fashion celebrity, Vincent Mc Doom.

With the support of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, 'AJ' was able to fly to France and walk in three shows. While there he met many international models. "I am beyond happy to have met and worked with some really wonderful people. I made some great connections, in particular with meeting other models," said Ajayi.

AJ was cast for the event when McDoom's assistant Christian Tran-Van-Nhô showed him an online photo of Ajayi when they were in the process of calling agencies for their general casting.  "I'd been looking for the 'masculine face of Labo Ethnik' for this season since I had already chosen the female face, Brittany Noon of St. Lucia.  Looking at his photo I imagined them together on the runway, and on a poster. They really are the DNA of what I think newness represents in modeling," said McDoom.

McDoom is a permanent judge on Russia's Next Top Model, and has been involved in France's and Poland's Next Top Model, and a guest judge on Germany's Next Top Model.

With a passion for highlighting Caribbean talent, McDoom was pleased to put AJ in front of designers from St. Lucia, Trinidad, Guyana, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Barbados, Jamaica, China, Japan, Africa, Europe, and the USA will also be represented. Labo Ethnik is held annually at Les Docks, Cite de la Mode in Paris and attracts  specialized fashion press/media, fashion editors, TV presenters, newspaper reporters, international fashion bloggers, radio hosts, seasoned fashion designers, international fashion buyers, and fashion's well known celebrities in music, cinema, sports, television.

TheBahamasWeekly.com last featured Ajayi in 2011 when he won a "Walk Off' modeling competition, and since that time the exotic, chiseled featured model with a body to match, has been busy developing his career while attending college and working at Atlantis.

Ajayi enjoys a good workout in the gym, he's into cars and likes to customize them himself. He has an interest in trying new foods, enjoys traveling and meeting new people.

AJ's candid shots from his trip to Paris.

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