-Jamaica Observer
The story of Kingston-born, Toronto-based supermodel Stacey McKenzie is to make it to the big screen.
Production on the biopic is set to commence later this year, with casting directors set to visit Jamaica shortly to search for two young Jamaican girls to play McKenzie at different stages of her life.
In an interview with the Jamaica Observer from New York where she is currently involved in promotions for the current cycle of the television reality show America's Next Top Model, McKenzie could hardly contain her excitement as she tried to explain the genesis of the film project.
“I was in New York, the executives at VH1 had flown me there for a meeting when I was being considered for the runway coach for America's Next Top Model. As part of the interview I was asked to tell my story, and by the end of it, not just me but everyone in the room was bawling. The executive producer, Ken Mok, just said it... 'I'm gonna tell your story. This story has to make it to the big screen'. I was like yeah sure, let's see,” she recalled.
That was last summer, Mok stuck to his word, and the Stacey McKenzie biopic Ugly
was born.
McKenzie was born in Jamaica. Her deep voice and unconventional looks made her the target of unkind statements from neighbours, schoolmates and even strangers. Migrating to Canada at age 13, she thought this would have made her life easier, but instead the bullying, racism and discouragement continued. Inspired to become a model she knocked on doors of modelling agencies on both sides of the Atlantic for five years before eventually making a breakthrough. Since then she has racked up an impressive list of print, television and runway work for the likes of fashion's elite including Calvin Klein, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Alexander McQueen and Tommy Hilfiger.
For obvious reasons she guards the storyline of Ugly, but hints that it is an inspiring story about female empowerment.
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