JTC crowns 2009 Nations Best Next Top Model

By Shannon Burns

Twenty Native women - and surprisingly three Native men - walked the runway at Jacobs Tobacco Company Friday evening during the 2009 Nations Best ™ Next Top Model show. It’s the third year JTC has held the competition in which Native women from any territory compete for a one-year modeling contract.

The show was created in 2007 to promote the JTC brand of tobacco “Nations Best ™” but it has grown into a large event with widespread impact. Of the twenty girls who competed this year (and all were new contestants - no returning competitors were allowed), thirteen were from Akwesasne, three were from Kahnawa:ke, two were from Tyendinaga, one was from Onondaga and one was from Cattaraugus.

For the second straight year, the show’s winner hailed from Akwesasne’s sister community of Kahnawa:ke. Jayme Leigh Glen, an 18-year-old student, seemed in shock as she accepted her roses from the Montreal modeling agency owner who was the show’s judge. Glen’s father, Peter Glen, leaped to his feet with joy and excitement, shouting and clapping for his daughter.

“I almost ran on the stage!“ said the proud father. “It was like winning the lottery! I’m very, very proud of her, she’s a very talented and artistic person…it’s just a good feeling. It’s a very big achievement for her.”

Many of the other contestants were far from upset at the contest results as most of them did the show for fun and for the experience.

The show featured a few surprises - including a live performance by former American Idol contestant Nathaniel Marshall, who is from Malone, New York. He performed a song he wrote himself called “Show Me What You Got.”

Marshall said he did the show because a friend contacted him about it.

“We have a friend - Benny (the event’s emcee) that was like ‘hey, they need performers.’ I’ll do anything to be on stage!” Marshall said.

Other performers throughout the show included Magoo Cook (dancer), Liz Hathaway (singer), Monty Pete (rapper), and Wrani Sunday and Justine Mitchell (dancers).

In four sequences the girls in the show modeled formal wear, casual wear, traditional wear, and Nations wear. The three male models - Adam White, Taylor Smoke and Kevin Castor - were incorporated into various parts of the show.

While the show gives models experience, many other professional people benefit as well such as hair and makeup artists, designers, decorators, lighting and sound people and photographers.

The group responsible for organizing the show was Tisha Thompson, Laura Thompson, Carlene Cree, Cody Terrance, Teneya Mitchell, Moses White, Donna Arquette, Mary Jacobs, Tonya Laughing, Toni Oakes, Denise Thompson, Tiffany Cree, Phillip Cook, Monty Pete, Shari Adams, Tara Cook, Tara Tarbell, Ashley Tarbell, Rena Smoke and Sharla Bigtree.

The contestants were Brittney Skidders, Mary Herne, Lorna Francis, Tsiehente Herne, Jordan Mitchell, Alainna Oakes, Marcy Herne, April Terrance, Javan Cook, Krista Oakes, Calsey Thompson, and Haley Cree, all from Akwesasne, as well as Brandy Diabo, Jayme Leigh Glen and Karonienhawe Diabo from Kahnawa:ke, Lacy Maracle and Shyanne Brant from Tyendinaga, Shanelle Mohawk from Cattaraugus and Monica Papineau from Onondaga.

Pre-show Interviews:

Brittney Skidders:

Why did you decide to do the show? “They asked me for a couple years and I finally caved.”

How are you feeling? “I’m scared! (But) it’s going to be a fun experience and something I can say I did.”

Lacy Maracle:

Why did you decide to do the show? “For fun and experience.”

Are you nervous? “I’m nervous for speaking.”

What was the best part of the experience? “Rehearsing and meeting all the girls.

Alainna Oakes:

Why did you decide to do the show? “It just sounded like a fun experience and my family was all talking me into it.”

What was the best part of the experience? “Probably meeting all the different girls from different reservations.”

How are you feeling? “I’m excited! I’ve done shows like this before and it was really, really fun.”