Shakem Charles Wins 2025 TCI Top Model Mainstream Media Award

The elegance of fashion met the exuberance of the media on Saturday, May 17th, 2025, as the 2025 TCI Top Model Mainstream Media Award competition unfolded at the stunning Somerset Resort on Grace Bay, Providenciales.

Now a signature feature of the TCI Top Model Contest, the Mainstream Media Award celebrates the contestant who best connects with the press through confidence, charisma, and communication. This year’s competition featured eight contestants who each participated in a series of rapid-fire, five-minute interviews with an esteemed panel of media judges. These included: Vivian Tyson, Editorial Director at NEWSLINE TCI; Olivia Rose, Reporter at Turks and Caicos Weekly News; Zoya Faessler, Reporter, Radio Turks and Caicos; and Takara Bain, Managing Director of All Eyes on You Communications TCI Ltd.

Following four (4) rounds of engaging and high-energy interviews, Contestant #1, Shakem Charles, emerged as the winner, earning the coveted full-page feature in this country’s three major news publications - The Sun, TC Weekly News, and Newsline TCI; he will also be featured on all of Radio Turks and Caicos’s social media platforms. This win is a transformative opportunity for any aspiring public personality or model.

“This win means everything to me,” said Shakem. “I came into this competition wanting to grow, to be seen, and to be heard. To have the media connect with who I am and what I represent—it’s empowering. I feel seen, and I’m ready for what’s next. In life’s journey, there might be delays along the way, but I know now—your destiny is never denied.”

Mynisha Chery (Contestant #4) and Diavion Ebanks (Contestant #6) were also standout performers, rounding out the top three with compelling interviews that showcased eloquence, authenticity, and impact.

This prestigious competition first took place in 2014, with Brielle Swann named as the inaugural Mainstream Media Darling Awardee. Since then, it has become a benchmark for identifying future stars in the fashion and communications industries.

Founder and Executive Producer of the TCI Top Model Contest, Mr. Courtney Robinson, shared, “The Mainstream Media Award is a vital part of this competition, because a model today isn’t just a face—they’re a voice, a brand, and a storyteller. Shakem demonstrated the poise, clarity, and authenticity that embodies the future of fashion in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and beyond our shores. This platform can truly change the trajectory of a contestant’s career.”

The journey continues as the spotlight turns toward the Grand Finale: “En Vogue”, taking place on Saturday, May 31st, 2025, at Brayton Hall, Providenciales. It promises to be an unforgettable evening of fashion, performance, and the naming of the Face of the Turks and Caicos, TCI Top Model 2025.

Don’t miss it—the future of fashion in the TCI is about to be unveiled at The Extravaganza!