Hi Krystle, can you introduce yourself to our readers please?  

Hey everyone, I was born in Trinidad and raised in Toronto and Trinidad as I've been travelling back and forth between the two places ever since I was a little girl.  I love music and have received distinctions and merits in music, got the highest scores in Trinidad at the time, and was thus awarded a school from Berklee but sadly turned it down so that I could attend school in Canada and achieve my Bachelors degree in Economics at Western Ontario.  I am also a licensed beautician and medical esthetician   I also love food, love to eat and love to cook and enjoy trying new foods.  At the present moment I am in Miami working on obtaining my Masters in Business at Nova. 
 
Just tell me a bit about yourself and how you got interested in fashion/modeling. Who were personal style influences and why? 

I always admired models and fashion shows when I was a little girl but never really bothered trying to get into the industry as many people always told me that I was too short. (I'm 5'2).  However, one day this guy from LA saw me in Toronto and saw my belly and somehow fell in love ha-ha and asked me to model some jeans for his portfolio.  My cousin who is also a photographer heard about what had happened and how I had started taking pictures for a portfolio and he told me to come do some shots with him and a few other photographers.  This was 2003 so I would have been 20 years old at the time.  I was also interviewed in a documentary on TFP and the modeling industry from the Savvy Media Group.  A few of the shots were entered in various competitions e.g. AGFA black and white, and one ended up placing first and some  in the top ten shots.  Ever since then I've been selective with my projects as this can still be a very scary industry and you got to be careful.

 
What was your modeling experience in the Caribbean? What did you enjoy most about it? 

Most of my modeling experience has been in Canada and I'm looking to break into the US market while in school.  But I have done two music videos where I was the lead girl; I've done some print ads where the most current one is for Republic Bank.  I've also Modeled Carnival costumes for Spice, Tribe and done some swimsuit modeling.  I enjoy modeling costumes the most as it’s my chance to relive Carnival Tuesday on stage as most of the times I am never in Trinidad for Carnival and also because I get to wear the costume before anyone else ha-ha. 

 
What is your definition of beauty? 

Being confident and truly happy with who you are and what you have and knowing how to work it.  But truly I believe it is confidence, as there may be many beautiful women out there but only 15% of them may have that inner confidence which people do pick up on when they meet you or when they are in a room with you.   A confident woman stands out and the non confident ones would tend to hate on her or are secretly jealous of her security in herself.  There are even some big girls who are extremely confident and I give props to them because they possess a happiness that many slimmer girls lack.  Beauty gets attention but it’s your charisma and the way you carry yourself around people that keeps the attention.

What do you think about the controversy in Europe on how skinny models should be?? 

It's disgusting but then again that is their market, as majority of women over there are tall and skinny or slim.  However to be stick skinny where it's unhealthy is just sick.   I had a few friends who were in that market that would never eat ANYTHING or else ELITE would fire them if they were too fat around the waist or legs and they were completely unhappy and sick.  They eventually dropped out of modeling but some still do continue and they don't look good in person at all.  The camera adds weight, so if a girl is kind of skinny in the picture, she's HELLA skinny in real life loll.  I believe in being fit and healthy.  Some people say I'm too skinny but I eat more than most men can. eat more than most men can. 
 

How has your look evolved over the years and if you took a sheet of paper and a pencil, what would you list as the assets you have that you're proud to own? 

Wow when I first started modeling my hair was extremely short and I hated it.  I was also a little chubbier and you can tell the difference in those first shots and my current shots.  I am extremely proud of my hair, my eyes, my lips and my butt and well legs (I've gotten compliments on them all).  I will not ever straighten my hair unless it's for a special event, because people recognize me from far by my hair.  My personal favourites about myself though are definitely my hair as it shows my mixture and my eyes.  I've been told I have Mediterranean/Arab eyes as people mistake me for Egyptian all the time (and yes my eyelashes are real).  I've made a lot of men melt with my glance ;) loll

 
Krystle, your beauty is rare and intoxicating. How would you describe the demand for your beauty in the modeling industry? How fierce is the competition you confront with other Caribbean beauties? 

Thank you.  I have a very versatile look and depending on how my hair was styled, I could pass for Indian, Spanish, Arab, Caribbean mix etc and I would say I have a pretty large demand for my look but since I do travel a lot and don't stay in one country for very long I tend to miss out on those various projects as they need for me to be in Trinidad or Miami or Toronto etc.   I am also extremely picky with the projects I do, as not every job is going to benefit me and I am looking to promote myself in a proper light.  I also dedicate my time to school and event management so it leaves me little time for the modeling but I do hire models for my events.  I wouldn't say there is much competition as the few of us that are well known all have a different look, or different heights etc.  It really depends on what look the contractor wants.

 
How would you describe your style? 

I am not very girly.  I prefer to dress up in lulu lemons and a tank top all day everyday as if I'm going to the gym.  I don't follow fashion or what's in style.  I just like to wear what looks good on me and honestly most men don't care if you have worn that outfit twice before.  Women dress for other women.  I dress for myself and what makes me comfortable or the mood I am in.   
 
How do you keep a fit and healthy body? 

I try to eat as properly as I can and I'm not going to lie and say I don't eat nonsense like fried chicken.  I LOVE fried chicken.  However I do work out on occasion and when I am in Trinidad I have a trainer that is like a drill sergeant and I also keep fit with another little secret, it's a type of dance ha-ha.  But I've always been active as a child and have done swimming, karate, ballet, gymnastics, football, Indian dancing, ballroom dancing and Latin dancing on a competitive level. 
 
What motivates or inspires you to achieve your goals? 

The feeling of achieving something that people said I couldn’t because of my height.  I've proven a lot of people wrong that you don’t need to be 5’7 and taller to be a model.  
 
What are some of your upcoming projects? 

At the moment I am supposed to be flying to the USVI to shoot a calendar on Water Island and I have been getting news that I've been requested to shoot in Brazil.  Otherwise I have been focused on school.

 
What are your plans for the future and what is your advice to women who want to get into modeling but feel they cannot? 

I plan to run my own medical spa and events Management Company, as I am extremely excited about the beauty field and the events management industry.  I may continue modeling for a few more years.  I do get asked that question a lot by men and women as to how to get into the industry, the best advice I can give is just do it, be confident go get some shots done and market yourself.  If you are not confident it will show up in your pictures as well.  At the end of the day as a model you have to represent something that people want to be.  So be the best that you can be in whatever field of modeling you choose. 
 
Thanks for the interview and all the best in your career. Any final words for our Caribbean readers? 

Thank you.  We in the Caribbean need to come together as one unit rather than separating ourselves by island and hating on each other.  Some of the islands need our help more than others so give back where we have been given.  Also you can book me at krystlekhan@gmail.com or follow me on twitter @krystlekhan