The Railway Courtyard came alive on Sunday morning as hundreds of aspiring models gathered for “Foundations: The Faces of ORIGINS 2026,” the official national casting call for the upcoming Origins Guyana Fashion Festival 2026. With more than 400 applicants registered ahead of the event, the casting marked one of the largest model recruitment exercises ever held for a fashion platform in Guyana. The initiative forms part of the festival’s broader mission to develop local talent and strengthen Guyana’s rapidly growing creative industry.
The casting officially began at 9:30 a.m., with hopeful models arriving early dressed in neutral, fitted attire as instructed by organisers. Ladies appeared in heels while male applicants showcased confident runway walks in sneakers and dress shoes, all hoping to secure a coveted place among the official faces of ORIGINS 2026. The event was hosted in a closed professional setting, allowing judges and coordinators to fully assess each applicant’s runway presence, confidence, posture, personality, and camera readiness.
The casting panel featured a strong lineup of respected fashion and beauty professionals from Guyana’s creative industry. Leading the panel was Andrea King, Producer and Creative Director of Origins Guyana Fashion Festival, who has been instrumental in shaping the vision and expansion of the platform. King emphasized the importance of creating opportunities that connect local creatives with professional development and regional visibility.
Joining her was renowned runway coach and model coordinator Keith Allicock, who evaluated contestants on their walk, stage confidence, discipline, and overall presentation. Allicock, known for training numerous local models, focused heavily on professionalism and runway readiness throughout the auditions.
Fashion designer and Festival Director Keisha Edwards, owner and Creative Director of Shasha Designs, also played a major role during the selection process. Edwards brought her extensive regional fashion experience to the panel, paying close attention to individuality, versatility, and marketability.
Beauty entrepreneur and Fenty Beauty Guyana lead makeup artist Susan Ibrahim assessed the contestants’ visual appeal, grooming potential, and editorial suitability, while creative professional Deborah King contributed to the overall evaluation process. Together, the panel worked throughout the day narrowing down contestants who demonstrated the potential to represent the next generation of Guyanese fashion talent.
The casting attracted a diverse mix of first-time hopefuls, experienced models, influencers, dancers, and public personalities. Among those seen at the event was Jose Roberts, Guyana’s reigning Mr. Universe 2025, whose appearance generated significant excitement among attendees. Roberts, known for his advocacy work and strong stage presence, brought added visibility to the event while showcasing the growing intersection between pageantry and fashion in Guyana. Creative artist and model Michael Sam was also among participants and attendees interacting within the fashion community during the casting. Sam, known for his bold artistic identity and contributions to local creative culture, reflected the festival’s embrace of individuality and artistic expression. Model and advocate Kya Bovell was another notable participant who drew attention for her confidence and poise during the audition process.
Origins 2026 arrives at a time when Guyana’s fashion and creative sectors are experiencing unprecedented growth and visibility. Organisers have continued expanding the platform beyond runway showcases by incorporating mentorship opportunities, workshops, industry networking, and financial incentives for creatives.
This year’s festival will also feature several major award categories, including:
- Best Fashion Designer
- Best Emerging Designer
- Outstanding Storyteller/Innovator
- Best Female Model
- Best Male Model
Cash prizes are expected to total millions of dollars in support of local creatives and fashion entrepreneurs. With the successful completion of the national casting, selected models will now move into the next phase of preparation as organisers intensify planning for what is expected to be Guyana’s biggest fashion production to date. As the Railway Courtyard emptied Sunday afternoon, one thing was clear — Guyana’s fashion industry is entering a new era, and the faces chosen may very well become the next generation shaping the future of Caribbean fashion.
