Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Confidence and determination go hand in hand with striking looks, long legs and the strut that carries supermodels across the globe. For Pulse model Jeneil Williams, she has it all in abundance and plans to carry her success to greater heights than those achieved by previous Jamaican models.

Having been discovered by Pulse heads Kingsley Cooper and Romae Gordon in 2005 during Caribbean Model Search, Williams was then signed to New York models.

Since then, Williams has begun to make waves straight to the top. She has been selected by Italian Vogue for its special issue on black models, shot by the revered Steiven Meisel in New York. She is a multiple magazine covergirl. Other accomplishments include being in Italian and American Vogue, Essence, Cosmo, and Benetton campaign.

In addition, she has been featured on the cover and 20 pages of the 'Italian fashion bible' BNM, Japan's Neutral magazine, the cover of SHE Caribbean and America's Trace. She has also been Models.com World Model of the Week on two occasions.

David Sims has also photographed Williams for Benetton, and she has modelled for Bloomingdales' catalogue, which she fondly remembers.

Statuesque beauty

She also opened the fall Diesel show in New York and has walked for L'Wren Scott, Richard Chai, and Zero and Maria Cornejo.

Since this year, she has appeared in Teen Vogue's editorial, been photographed by Daniel Jackson, and opened the spring Paul Smith show in London. Williams is easily the most successful girl from the region in 2009 and one of the top achievers in the world this year.

The Sunday Gleaner spoke to the statuesque beauty while she was in Jamaica for the holidays on one of her brief visits. As the model affirmed, it's all about, "work, work, work".

Born in Kingston, Williams said she aspired to be a model from an early age but briefly reconsidered after a brief sojourn in the world of track and field. After an injury which led her back to her modelling roots, it has been non-stop travelling, from New York to London to Paris, pursuing a career. And her family supports her 100 per cent!

Living in New York now, Williams said she doesn't get to visit Jamaica often, only for holidays and for Caribbean Fashionweek in the summer. Williams said, "I do see myself modelling for a while, being a top model. Maybe one day I'll wanna do designing. To be a top model, though, I think determination is the key. You just have to go there and do it. Once you have confidence as well, everything comes after."

Looking up to models like Tyra Banks, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, Williams has some big shoes to fill, but for 2010, her career seems bright. Her more recent work include Russian Vogue editorial, shot one week ago with agency colleague Sedene Blake, Narciso Rodriquez' fall 2010 preview, Bloomingdales' campaign, and LOVE magazine's editorial with famous photographers Mert and Marcus. Pulse model Jeneil Williams