Nineteen individuals from diverse backgrounds proudly graduated from the Young Guild TT Workshop on Sunday, and are now ready to lead in fashion, performance, pageantry, and beyond.
After weeks of intensive training in modelling, personal development, and image refinement, these young talents showcased the skills they gained and stood poised to make their mark in fashion, media, and more.
Founded by Creative Director and cultural strategist Richard Young, the Young Guild TT Workshop intentionally included a diverse group of participants.
He said: “When I started I was trying to block them into groups, and I decided, ‘You know what? I am going to create a template with this mixed group, mixed ages, mixed ethnicities, mixed genders, mixed sizes and be very all-inclusive.’ It was the most phenomenal thing. We shed tears, we laughed, we learnt from each other along the way.”
Samara Peters, a participant, said the workshop helped to build her confidence.
“During my time here at the Young Guild, I have benefited a lot, but I have benefited the most from gaining a lot of confidence, learning how to trust my abilities and embracing my growth. So I would encourage any young person to be a part of this initiative driven by Mr. Richard Young and his team, as I believe it adds to the holistic development of any young person that would love to reach their fullest potential.”
Mothers were not left behind. Kerina Brereton-Thomas, who is on a journey to reinvent herself, said this was her way of taking up space in a creative world that she loves.
“My life has taught me the importance of that saying, ‘broken crayons still colour,’ as I push to recreate myself in a space that isn’t always accommodating or accepting. I’ve learnt that in order to live a fulfilling life, I need to step out of the box that society has placed me and those like me in. So I am here doing something extraordinary.”
Names have power, and for Nkomah Alexander, embracing the meaning of his name comes following the confidence gained from this workshop.
“I’ve learnt that like the wolf, I have the power to be resilient given any scenario placed before me. I’ve now realised that it’s not the name that gives the person meaning, but the person that gives meaning to the name. So I am Nkomah Alexander, and I wear my name with pride.”
This year’s cohort walked away with confidence and the ability to become impactful individuals in and out of the fashion industry.