Latest update October 21st, 2026 10:30 AM
Sep 22, 2024 Features / Columnists, News

Guyana Fashion Showcase top models, Sharminah Leah and Miss Guyana Culture Queen 2024, Shequana Holder
Kaieteur News – In celebration of the CPL Cricket Carnival 2024, the Guyana Fashion Showcase (GFS) is set to dazzle with a vibrant display of local fashion talent on October 4, 2024. The Guyana Fashion Showcase promises to be a spectacular event, combining local talent with international flair in a celebration of style and culture.
The event will take place at the National Gallery of Art, Castellani House in Georgetown.
The theme for this year’s showcase, “Style with Beauty in the Rainforest,” reflects Guyana’s lush and colorful natural beauty. The official announcement of the event was made at a press conference held on August 2, 2024, at Colabs Guyana Inc. The conference was hosted by Philbert Giddings, CEO and Founder of GFS; Michelle Cole Wagner, international designer and head of COLEFACTS; and Sharminah Leah, international actress and model.
Speaking with Kaieteur News about the upcoming event, Giddings shared his journey in the fashion world. Giddings, who has a background in construction and promotion, has been active in the industry for decades and has built relationships with top designers such as Francis Henry.
He explained: “I came back to Guyana from New York in 2017 after seeing the carnival and the potential for fashion here. I decided to invest in rebuilding and promoting fashion in Guyana.”
Designer, Michelle Cole Wagner shared that the selection of the models have been finalised. She explained that at the first model casting for the showcase, held on August 2, saw over 50 local participants, and the final selection process concluding on September 7. Out of this group, 38 local models were chosen, alongside additional international models. Cole Wagner emphasized the diversity in this year’s selection, stating, “We aim to present real models of various sizes, moving beyond the traditional size 2. This year, we are including models up to size 16 to reflect a broader range of beauty.”
Cole Wagner emphasized the significance of this year’s event, saying, “With this being the final year for CPL cricket, it’s the perfect moment to showcase Guyanese fashion. I hope this event will garner support from the local community. We have prepared a special stage for you all.”
Giddings concluded with high expectations for the event, stating, “We are looking forward to a night filled with total ambience and couture fashion.”
Sharminah Leah, who joined the team for this event, expressed her excitement about participating.
She asserted “My dad is Guyanese, so I’ve always wanted to visit. This show is a wonderful opportunity for me to come to Guyana for the first time.” Leah, who has modeled for renowned brands like Chanel and L’Oréal, is eager to contribute to the showcase. Miss Guyana Culture Queen 2024, Shequana Holder, is also set to be a prominent face at the GFS.
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Oct 21, 2026
(Kaieteur News) – The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) has named its boys’ and girls’ teams for the basketball competition at the 2026 Inter-Guiana Games (IGG), scheduled for October 23–25...Oct 21, 2026
(Kaieteur News) – During the PNC era, a gentleman who had been persuaded to participate in one of the many marches organised by the government received a box of food at the end of the proceedings. He opened it. Inside was cook-up rice and a generous piece of chicken. There was only one small...Oct 18, 2026
By Sir Ronald Sanders (Kaieteur News) – On 14 October, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that higher borrowing costs, falling development assistance and other economic pressures threaten to widen the distance between advanced and developing economies. She appealed for additional...Oct 21, 2026
(Kaieteur News) – Guyana now has more than oil in its hands. Guyana has a strain of this century’s Great Game now hanging over its head. It’s not the Great Game played out by Britain and Imperial Russia almost 200 years ago for dominance in Central Asia. Wish it was that distant, and...Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: glennlall2000@gmail.com / kaieteurnews@yahoo.com