VI MODELS TAKE NYC BY STORM 11TH YEAR IN A ROW
Jason Gardener, CEO of JG Management USVI and Owner/Producer at VI Model of the Year Competition, reunites with 2019 Commercial Model of the Year winner and rising fashion star, St. Croix’s Jenna-Monet Queeley, during his agency’s recent trip to NYC to celebrate his modeling competition’s 2025-2026 winners. All photos courtesy of Jason Gardener/Facebook.
Every summer since 2014, Jason Gardener, CEO of JG Management USVI, has planned an exciting industry trip to the Big Apple as part of the prize package for the winners of his annual V.I. Model of the Year Competition.
Just off the heels of this year’s trip—his 11th—from July 9 to 22, Mr. Gardener sat down with Dress Better on the Weekend to share insider details.
“First and foremost, it’s to go on a Go-See, which is agency visits to different modeling and talent agencies in hopes of recognition and representation,” he explains. “That they would be interested in us and offer one of our models representation, in terms of contracts, whether to work during the summertime or the ones that are old enough that are ready for relocation, they can work on a consistent basis.”
The 2025-2026 winners include Gianna Micaela Aloyo, VI Child Model of the Year and Emily Ahrens, VI Commercial Model of the Year. The 2023-2024 VI Commercial Model of the Year winner, Maleigha Bannis, also traveled with the group.
Mr. Gardener explained that aside from the beneficial Go-See opportunities, a big part of the group’s itinerary is to attend modeling and industry workshops.
“We always do one with international model coach Alva Page and he’s truly amazing at what he does,” Mr. Gardener says. “It’s basically elevating what they’ve learned already and giving them tips and pointers of what it’s like to make it in the industry that he may see in them that they may need to work on personally.” In previous years, Mr. Gardener says he has also arranged for his modeling students to attend acting workshops.
A highlight of the 2025 trip, Mr. Gardener says, was the group’s visit to New York City cultural and historical landmark, The Metropolitan Museum of Art—famous for its annual Met Gala—where they toured the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibit.
“That was, for me, it was beyond amazing and eye-opening,” the longtime fashion guru said.
In an effort to explain the emotion he felt while visiting the exhibit, Mr. Gardener adds, “Something literally just came over me when I was there because I felt like I belonged there with all my years in the business and industry, and studying it every day—looking at pictures, videos, interviews, magazines, designers, and brands.”
He says the experience of seeing the expansive exhibit that featured 300 years of black fashion history overwhelmed him in the best way possible.
“Looking at the mannequins, all the black mannequins and their features, I felt like I was seeing myself in them,” he says. “If you’re in New York City, I would recommend you see it for yourself. It is truly something amazing to see.”
When it comes to his goal for the trip, aside from drumming up agency interest in his modeling students, Mr. Gardener says he hopes the students “look at this as an opportunity to not only grow, but to better themselves and to see that what we’re doing back home here in St. Croix, they can see that we’re on the right track.”
He continues, “Because hearing from the agents and everyone that they meet, everyone was like, ‘You guys are in the right hands; Jason is amazing’. I just hope that they understand that what we’re doing is truly preparing them, not just for the industry, but for whatever they choose to do in life.”
For instance, Mr. Gardener points out that he provides his students instruction on how to dress appropriately for various social events or for work, how to have good posture, speak well, and be mannerly.
While the educational aspects of the two-week trip takes centerstage, attendees also enjoy sight-seeing, lunches and dinners around NYC where dressing stylishly is required. Mr. Gardener says his daily posting of the group’s outfit choices on social media is intentional.
“From the very beginning, I make sure that fashion is a big part of the trip,” he explains. “It’s just another way for us to express ourselves. We’re in New York City, no matter where you’re going, dress up, have fun because we never know who’s watching.”
And according to Mr. Gardener, this fashion-focused strategy has paid off.
“Some of the agents that we’ve met have positively commented about our daily social media posts of our looks,” he says. On a previous trip, Mr. Gardner says the group was coordinated in all-white outfits with a pop of color, and an agent—an industry colleague of Mr. Gardener—who was dining at the same restaurant as them that day, commented on the group’s execution of the look. That meeting resulted in an introduction to another agent, who has become a part of Mr. Gardener’s Go-See each year since then.
As part of their training on the trip, attendees are required to wear curated, themed outfits. For two of their Dinner Nights, they coordinate in an all-white look with a pop of color and an all-black look. There’s also Denim Day for a day trip to New Jersey and then there’s Broadway Night, where everyone is encouraged to “pull out all the stops and be as unique as possible,” Mr. Gardener says. Each year, competition winners are also treated to a high-fashion photoshoot in New York City, where they are required to wear black-and-white with a pop of color.
What’s next for Mr. Gardener and his V.I. Model of the Year Competition? More collaboration and expanding the brand in unique ways.
“It’s about figuring out new and inventive ways to keep elevating the brand,” he says. “What I would love to do with the V.I. Model of the Year brand is to franchise with some of the different Caribbean islands where they have their own model competitions and all winners compete for Caribbean Model of the Year tied to a guaranteed model contract in New York. It’s about elevating the brand and representing more models and talent.”