With hundreds of handsome faces appearing on the catwalk for menswear’s biggest shows, it can be difficult for a new guy to make his mark, but the Jamaican-born male model Brad Allen doesn’t have to worry about all that. With appearances at Givenchy, Balmain, Calvin Klein Collection, and Hermès, Allen was among the busiest boys of the season. An honor student in Kingston, Jamaica, before being approached by scouts from Saint International, Allen admits fashion was the furthest thing from his mind before he started modeling. “It never crossed my mind once I was focused on ending high school and finding a job,” said Allen via email from Paris. “About six years ago I was on my way from school when I was scouted by a representative from Saint International. I was not interested at first, but then they kept calling. A few days later, my mother and I met with the CEO, Deiwght Peters, and when he saw me, he said, ‘You are going to be a star.’ ”
Given that Peters has launched the careers of fellow Jamaican models like Tami Williams and Kai Newman, the endorsement was crucial. Not long after, Allen was on the runway during Jamaica’s annual StyleWeek and earning a place in the Top 5 during the Fashion Face of the Caribbean contest. Success abroad quickly followed, with a debut on the catwalk during the Spring 2013 shows. Though he’s been modeling quietly since then, this season’s menswear shows saw Allen hitting his stride. “So far this has been my best season,” said Allen, citing walking for Calvin Klein Collection—“one of my dream shows”—as the Milan highlight, and appearing with all the top male models in the Balmain show as Paris’s. “The cast was amazing, and I was proud to be a part of it. Before you get into the business, you hear so many different stories, but what has been a pleasant surprise for me is how nice people are. The agents take care of you and people want to see you succeed. Very importantly, too, this is a business and not a game, so you have to be very professional.”
Allen’s professionalism and distinctive beauty have brought him success, but he already has his eyes on the future. Aside from wanting to hit all of the usual model milestones of campaigns and covers, Allen said he dreams of working alongside photography heroes like Steven Meisel, Bruce Weber, Nick Knight, Mario Testino, and Steven Klein. Off-hours are spent cooking, hanging out with his younger sister, and his latest passion: volunteering. “This past Christmas I got involved in a charity for kids with disabilities through my mother agency in Jamaica, and I think that’s going to be a big part of what I do going forward,” wrote Allen. With New York Fashion Week: Men’s only moments away and Allen set to bring his talents stateside, we suspect we’ll be seeing a lot more of him soon.