June 2024
Month 20xx
Gabby McMann
Charmaine Gooden
Jacob Marion
“I walked on my tiptoes in a $1000 Wayne Clark dress, with no shoes, and I don’t think anyone noticed,” reminisces Jenniffer Shaw, reflecting on a remarkable moment from her runway career. It was during a Shaw College fashion show, amidst a frantic outfit change, that Shaw found herself without shoes due to a rushed outfit change. Undeterred, she strutted out with her head held high, and the show went on.
Shaw has since left behind the chaos of a runway model’s life, retiring during the pandemic after decades in the fashion industry.
early life and career
Shaw was born in Milk River, Clarendon, Jamaica, and at age 13, moved to Toronto with her family. They settled in the Bloor and Ossington neighbourhood, where she attended Essex Public School and Bickford Park High School. “We were a middle-class family, and I had great parents,” says Shaw. “They were strict and hardworking.”
Shaw’s journey into modelling began unexpectedly. At around 14, flipping through the TV guide, she stumbled upon an ad for the Barbizon Modeling School in Toronto. “Be a model or look like one,” it read. Intrigued, she applied and with her parents’ support enrolled at Barbizon, which was located across from Simpson’s department store at Queen and Bay Street.
Early in her career, Shaw would canvas fashion houses in Toronto, offering to model their clothes. This persistence paid off with her first paid modelling gig. Her breakthrough came at a Shaw College fashion show, where she famously strutted barefoot, catching the eye of talent scouts and securing agency representation thereafter.
“That’s when I got into an agency, first Team One Agency on Avenue Road north of Davenport for two years before moving on to Nexus Personal Management Inc.,” says Shaw.
Since then, Shaw has graced the runways for renowned designers such as Leo Chevalier, Jean Claude Poitras, Michel Robichaud, and House of Lorraine by Lorraine Delsol. Describing Shaw’s runway presence, Delsol notes, “When you looked at Jenniffer off stage, she appeared like anyone else, but on the runway, she exuded attitude.”
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When you looked at Jenniffer off stage, she appeared like anyone else, but on the runway, she exuded attitude.
role of race
Navigating the industry during times of racial bias, Shaw focused on making a living. “Modelling was survival to me,” she insists, supporting herself and her son, through her work. She focused on professionalism: “We had to have a good attitude; a bad one meant we wouldn’t get hired.”
Despite facing limitations–many Toronto agencies only retained one or two Black models–Shaw persisted. Repeated rejections only strengthened Shaw’s resolve, “If told ‘no’, I’d return until they said ‘yes’.”
Shaw’s international career took her to Germany for showroom modelling in Munich and Dusseldorf. She observed varying attitudes among designers regarding Black models, with preferences ranging from darker to lighter complexions.
Even though she faced barriers at times, Shaw received a lot of support from her colleagues and fellow Black community members who worked in fashion.
Shaw made strong connections with other runway models as well. Her friend Glenda, from Barbizon New York, helped with getting her runway walk down pat. “We used to get together once a week and practise our walks,” Shaw reminisces. She found genuine support, long-lasting friends and a community within the industry.
“I’m proud of my colleagues; we worked well together,” Shaw remarks.
influence and legacy
Shaw’s career spanned decades, starting with her Barbizon Modelling School application at 13 and concluding with retirement three years ago from fashion distributor Janor Imports.
Her impact extends beyond the runway. Throughout her career, Shaw mentored aspiring models, sharing her expertise generously. “If someone sought advice on starting out, I never hesitated to help,” Shaw says her commitment to empowering fellow models and nurturing a supportive community defines her legacy.
Shaw’s legacy is rooted not only in her talent but also in her collaborative spirit, nurturing a community of strong friendships and professional bonds.
Delsol recalls their collaborations in the early 1970s, preparing inexperienced models for fashion shows, a testament to Shaw’s enduring influence. “From the first show onwards, Jenniffer was always there,” Delsol reminisces, highlighting Shaw’s lasting impact on the Black fashion community.
Modelling was survival to me,” she insists, supporting herself and her son, through her work, so she focused on professionalism: “We had to have a good attitude; a bad one meant we wouldn’t get hired.”
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