Romaine Dixon writes new chapter

Jetting across the pond in January to return to a red-hot career that had hit the pause button due to the pandemic, SAINT International star Romaine Dixon, signed to Models 1 in London, is ecstatic to be back in the saddle. With multi-page editorial spreads in Paperboy and L’Officiel Italia magazines, a Zara spring menswear collection shoot, and multiple runway appearances at London Fashion Week men’s collections, the Jamaican model-turned-northwest London resident, who enjoys glorious wraparound views of the Wembley stadium, is on a familiar upward career trajectory.

Dixon’s impressive model portfolio speaks volumes all on its own. He has amassed a mightily impressive client listing within two years, having co-fronted global advertising campaigns for three of the world’s premier luxury fashion houses: Dior, Fendi and Hermes. And while he is naturally proud of his high-flying accomplishments, he has found deeper life satisfaction. “I believe I am at a point in my life where I need to be focused on what is important, and I have chosen to put God at the centre,” Dixon shared of his baptism at the London International Christian Church earlier this year. “I was ready to make a serious life commitment and enjoy a life without stress, anxiety or worry, and live a full life according to the Bible.” Having recently wrapped up a location shoot south of Italy in the island state of Malta, where he was photographed for luxury fashion e-commerce retailer The OutNet’s summer wardrobe inventory, the model is on the phone in the departure terminal at Heathrow Airport, en route to New York for another client assignment.

Scouted on social media in 2018 by SAINT CEO Deiwght Peters, Dixon was signed on the spot when he met Peters in person. The lanky, freckle-faced model would, in turn, have one of the most auspicious of beginnings in the international modelling industry, making the model line-up for the Valentino Spring/Summer 2019 men’s collection in Paris. A stellar roster of runway bookings came quickly after that for the who’s who of fashion: Balmain, Boss, Dries Van Noten, Jean Paul Gaultier, Jil Sander, Salvatore Ferragamo, Thom Browne, Tom Ford and Versace. Then came his landing a trifecta of high-profile ad campaigns before COVID hit. An eternal optimist, Dixon, remains undaunted. “Things have not gotten back to pre-COVID levels for me, but it has been really good considering,” the now 23-year-old volunteered.

Asked how he handles rejections when not picked on job auditions, Dixon said: “I’m confident in my ability as a model and have the experience and clientele to prove that fact. If I was rejected for a job, it’s simply that my image as a model is not the direction for their current project. I do not internalise the rejection, nor do I worry as the Bible tells us clearly in Matthew 6:25, ‘Do not worry’.” And what’s on the SAINT’s model vision board? “I have not done any eyewear, fragrance or jewellery campaigns yet, so those are definitely on my to-do list,” he told The Gleaner just before boarding his flight to the Big Apple in pursuit of model dreams but with a grounded mindset.

lifestyle@gleanerjm.com