2019 JCFW Face of Fashion Week and Spokesmodel
Amber Alicia Creighton
This year’s Face of Fashion is Amber Alicia Creighton. Amber is a published print and runway model, Television and Red Carpet Interview Host, world traveler, writer, business woman, and a mother of two young daughters. She has a Master’s Degree in Archaeology from the University of Cambridge. She has modeled in New York Fashion Week, Filmed Fashion Shows, Televised Interviews, Jersey City Fashion Week, Westchester Fashion Week, Independent Designer Fashion Shows, in commercials and in magazines. She has also been cast as a lead character in an upcoming TV series.
Amber was also crowned as this year’s Elegant Diva in a Beauty Pageant produced by the Jefferson Foundation. The Jefferson Foundation focuses on promoting scholarship for women. The Beauty Pageant has three categories. They award a scholarship for Miss Black America (age 18 and up college bound), Miss Elegant Diva (ages 25 to 39) and Miss Silver Diva (ages 50 and over).
Women empowerment is one of the main reasons for Amber’s involvement in the fashion industry. Ms. Creighton is a very active member of our community in Jersey City. She has supported community improvement projects and beneficial community charities. She has also used her modeling to support many fashion events donating to worthy causes.
Amber is an active Business Woman as well as a published travel and fashion writer. She is currently writing a travel blog to encourage mothers to enjoy self-care and self-expression as well as fashion. It also emphasizes enjoying a healthy lifestyle for themselves and their families. Ms. Creighton writes about the importance of setting time aside to pursue professional and personal interests even while organizing clear priorities. This rejuvenating combination can actually help parents (both mothers and fathers) be even better role models for their children. This blog is found at thetravellingfitmommy.com.
Ms. Creighton lived aboard for four years in Europe, Asia, and the Near East during her studies and professional career. She has been to almost every region of the Globe. The reason for her love of travel was her first trip aboard at age 17. Amber went on a volunteer medical mission through a Christian organization to orphanages in Romania. This eye opening trip changed her life. Amber realized how small and interconnected the world is. She also saw that the gift of love, compassion, and spending time with these children made a greater impact than any supplies. Amber applies this valuable lesson here at home. She says, “We need more volunteers to spend time with the youth of Jersey City as positive mentors. This can be accomplished through involvement and support of back to school programs, and the non-profit organizations of The Boys and Girls Club of Jersey City, and Big Brothers, Big Sisters”
Amber has volunteered and raised money for many children’s charities. These include Arts to Grow and Rocking the Boat. Both of these non-profits provide after school programs for at risk youth. Arts to Grow encourages children and teenagers to explore and appreciate art in after school programs. Rocking the Boat provides amazing programs that teaches students to build their own rowboats and navigate a rowboat around the island of Manhattan! She has raised thousands of dollars by volunteering to row over 30 miles around the island of Manhattan! She completed this over 30 mile rowing trip twice during two separate years.
Thaddeus Mantilla
Thaddeus Mantilla, age 13, was born in Clifton, NJ. He was named after St Jude Thaddeus, the saint of impossible causes after his mother received a phone call at five months pregnant from her doctor. He informed her that her baby had tested 98% positive for Down Syndrome. On October 5, 2007, Thaddeus was born. The doctors took him away to the NICU without allowing mother and child an opportunity to bond.
The doctor came into the recovery room and explained to Mrs. Mantilla all the possible complications and surgeries Thaddeus might have to face. The doctors had determined that Thaddeus would have to spend his first two months of life in a NICU. Although Thaddeus arrived two months earlier, he was born a fighter and he was going to write his script. Thaddeus a healthy baby boy was discharged from the hospital on the feast of St Jude Thaddeus, October 28. Thaddeus is an example of God’s many miracles.
Thaddeus is an actor and a model, but he takes pleasure in expressing himself through dance. His dance styles focus on the sweeping arm movements and rhythmic feet stomping of Flamenco, the sound creation of striking his tap shoes on the floor as a form of percussion through Tap, or the use of free form expression through Jazz to convey a message. His biggest adrenaline rush is when he is performing on stage.
Thaddeus has competed and won numerous awards and medals for the United Dance Tournament, Dance Educators of America, Legacy, Sheer Elite Nationals, and Cathy Roe. As an actor, in 2019 Thaddeus played the principal lead as Chuey on “Queens” a short film produced by Abelardo S Garcia, and played the lead in Mutiny’s music video, “Conversations with Lil Mac.” He also had the honor to be a background actor in Lin Manuel Miranda’s, “In the Heights.” As a model, Thaddeus walked the runway representing Wonderland and Beautiful You Fashion during NYFW both in 2018 and 2019. In 2018, he was featured in “Dixie” magazine as one of the top 10 models, actors, and dancers. Outside of acting, modeling, and dancing, Thaddeus won first place in 2017 and again in 2018 in the Martin Luther King Oratory contest and represented his school at City Hall.
In 2019, Thaddeus was chosen to be the child face of Jersey City Fashion Week 2019/2020. A title that is significant to him because thanks to the founder, Ms. Desha L. Jackson, he is not only the face of Jersey City Fashion Week, but he gets the opportunity to connect and give back to the community. Through his involvement in the arts, Thaddeus wants to inspire young people to feel empowered and able to accomplish anything they dream. To be the authors of their own stories.
Jersey City Fashion Week announces Face of Fashion Week!!!! Models have an opportunity to compete to be featured all year on our website via this page and be a JCFW spokesperson for the year!!! One of the major components of our fashion week is charity and some of the proceeds go to help many charitable causes. In order to chooses the winners we considered those models who answered our three questions, had a great background in giving to the community, advertised our week and themselves in an appropriate manner and how many tickets they sold to raise money for the charity.
Our 2018 winners are the fabulous Jeri Lynn Astra and Jae Anna Elizabeth Wilson!!!!
Photos by Joseph Hernandez JCFW Media Coordinator.
2018 JCFW Face of Fashion Week and Spokesmodel Jeri Lynn Astra
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2018 Face of Fashion Week and Spokesmodel Jae Anna Elizabeth Wilson!!
Born Jae Anna Elizabeth Wilson, everyone knows this little ray of sunshine as simply “Jaeâ€. Jae was born on May 13, 2008 to Mr. Jason Wilson & Mrs. Stephanie Wilson. Not only was Jae born a triplet, but she was the only triplet to survive. After dealing with a rough pregnancy, Stephanie knew that her “Miracle Child†(as she would call her), would be determined for greatness instantly. Coming from a family of strong, caring, and giving women such as Florence Holmes, her grandmother, and her mother, Stephanie Wilson, it’s only right that the traits are passed down to Jae.
Since the age of 3-years-old, Jae has been following in her grandmother and mom’s footsteps of volunteering and giving back to her community to the best of her ability. Her first volunteer job was packing Thanksgiving dinners for senior citizens with AngelaCares. She has also been involved with Christmas toy drives, Turkey Give-a-ways, feeding the homeless, making toiletry bags to give out to the homeless, and so much more. Not only is Jae active in her volunteer work, but she’s active in her personal life as well. Jae was involved in Miss HuggettesDance School and for 4 years, she was a part of the Hudson County Angels (HCA) Cheerleading squad, and a part of Girl Scouts. If you thought that was it, you’re wrong! Jae wanted to step her activity list up a notch and she did just that! She stepped her foot into the pageant lifestyle and came out with the titles of Little Miss New Jersey and Little Miss Pennsylvania. Jae was a part of the Liberty All-Star’s Cheerleading team of Jersey City, an active member of Bobby Knight’s King Chess Club, and an active member of her school’s Lincoln Community School Kids Club.
After stepping away from her family last year with her mommy to breathe some new air and look at new faces in Columbia, South Carolina Jae didn’t stop doing what she wanted, knewand loved to do. Jae was heavily involved in her school, Joseph Keels Elementary School by being in different clubs and participating in different projects for her age group. Jae couldn’t leave South Carolina without everyone knowing who she was, so she did what she did best by entering another pageant and winning the title of Little Miss Born Natural 2015.
Jae considers herself to be a role model for today’s youth. It may seem like she is a grown woman, but she is only 9 years old. Jae’s future endeavors for the community is to keep applying what she was taught by her grandmother and mother over the years and to also enhance it in a way that kids will want to step up and step out and be helpful in their community. As she continues to grow, she plans to continue giving back to her community, sit on the board of friends of Arlington Park (like her grandmother), work with senior citizens, and bring awareness to her community on many different aspects. Aside from community service, she plans to attend college, be a Firefighter like her godmother, Elizabeth Clark, be a Ballerina like her dance teacher, Katherine Becker, or maybe even be the President of the United States of America. She also wants to win the titles of Miss New Jersey, Miss USA, and Miss Universe, but for now, Jae wants to keep enjoying her childhood, while encouraging kids her age to be active in their community. Jae is getting ready to Kick off her 2nd Annual Soup and sock Drive this weekend.
2017 JCFW Face of Fashion Week and Spokesmodel Sydney Raquel Salters
Sydney Raquel Salters, age 13, was born in Secaucus, New Jersey, on January 11, 2004. Sydney began her modeling career at the age of 9 with Strike A Pose Modeling and Social Graces, under the direction of Mrs. Tori Carter. Sydney attends parochial school in Jersey City and will be graduating from Middle School in 2018.
Sydney has been modeling with Jersey City Fashion Week for the past four (4) seasons. Some of the designers being Victoria Gibbs, Angie Teko-Agbo, Tyrone Chablis, 3rd Eye, Tyrell Mason, Bella Bee, Wendy, Aeropostale, and others, as well as, high school and college students who have entered in the designer contest.
In 2017, Sydney was selected as a Runway Model for Fashion Kids NYC. The designer for this showcase was Jegie Carrera. Also in 2017, Sydney was a Runway Model for Ms. Chevonne's Annual Prom Dress Giveaway, Jersey City, New Jersey, an organization that supplies gowns and dresses, free of charge, for high school Junior and Seniors to attend their Proms.
In 2016, Sydney attended Barbizon NYC. In addition to receiving training in Modeling, she trained in Commercials and attended classes on how to apply cosmetics properly. She graduated in the fall of 2016.
In 2015, Sydney was a Runway Model for Bergen County Community College 3rd Annual Fashion Show - Rip the Runway - Carnival Edition. The designer for this showcase was Victoria Gibbs and Bella Bee.
In 2015, 2016, and 2017, Sydney was part of Mount Olive Baptist Church Teen Magazine where she was paired up with kids her age and they discussed day to day activities and issues, compiling same, to create articles to be placed in the magazine. The graduation ceremony was held each year at City Hall, Jersey City, New Jersey. Sydney also attended Ms. Hugettes Dance Studio, Bayonne, New Jersey, since the age of 6, where she studied Tap, Jazz, Freestyle and Hip Hop dance.
Sydney attends church regularly. She is liturgical dancer, a junior usher and a member of the youth choir.
When Sydney is not modeling, she enjoys shopping, bike riding, dancing, acting, and bowling.
Sydney appreciates the opportunity of being the 2017 Face of Fashion.
2017 JCFW Face of Fashion Week Spokesmodel Ryan Alexander Ross
Photos by Devon Hill of DreamChasers Studio
Ryan Alexánder Ross is a 21-year-old full-time student at New Jersey City University and resides in Jersey City. He is Guyanese and British, and loves his culture and family. Ryan is also an NJCU undergraduate in his junior year and is double majoring in Marketing and Management. He is the current Vice President of Student Activities of the Student Government Organization at New Jersey City University. He graduated from Career Academy High School back in 2014 at the top of his class and as the Senior Class President. Ryan is an event coordinator, event host, a full-time student, a freelance model, a professional Urban/Pop/Caribbean dancer, actor, and has first hand experience in anything that surrounds fun and entertainment around Jersey City. He has active involvement in community service and believes in giving back in every way possible
Ryan represents leadership, diversity, honesty, education, reliability, equality, and fairness, and wants to represent NJCU's student body with the best activities and events as possible. He dedicates himself to his studies and education at the NJCU School of Business in the Financial District area of Jersey City. At New Jersey City University, the students consider him the popular, energetic guy that is always on the go! Ryan’s events are always over the top and unforgettable because he truly has a strong passion with event planning and creativity and thinking outside the box.
He is on his way to leaving his legacy before he graduates from NJCU in 2019. Ryan always remains to have a humble, friendly, charming personality that can light up any room in any given situation. Mr. Ross comes from a very large, supportive, and loving family from England, Guyana, Canada, and New York, and in New Jersey. A few of his style inspirations are Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, James Brown, and Prince. Ryan’s fashion and style is Electric, and Miami Vice inspired. Ryan’s mother, Latchmi Veerden and Manager, Marlon Daniels are some of his biggest motivators and role models he looks up to for mentorship and professional advice. Mr. Alexánder Ross has his own big, humble personality that makes him such an incredible soul to always be around.
Wherever he is, Ryan will keep you smiling and entertained with random conversations about life and living life on the edge. He chooses to live his life with positive people and positive energy. Once 
he puts his mind to something, he will successfully accomplish it without any issues because he makes the process an easy one to succeed. Ryan broke into modeling to support self-confidence and to love yourself for you and live your life to please yourself and not others.
Mr. Ryan Alexánder Ross will be launching several projects in 2018, such as becoming the producer and host of New Jersey City Universities first ever morning talk show. He will become the Head Chairman, and Co- Founder of the Universities first ever Campus Activity Programming Board. He will then be inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success. Ryan Alexánder will be making his official comeback to Instagram in January 2018 to debut all his hard work, talent, and grow and expand himself and his creativity. He is very educated, talented, family oriented, creative, and humble. He has had an amazing experience at Jersey City Fashion Week thanks to founder, Desha L. Jackson for making it one he’ll never forget. He has become the Male Model Face of Fashion of Jersey City of 2017-18 by winning this year’s competition. You can catch his upcoming interview with Laurie Perrone, founder of “This Jersey Girl’s Career and Style Online Magazine in January of 2018!
