Workshops for Bermuda's Next Top Model II Competition begin today at the Berkeley Institute.

Gino Productions' Amir X, who is one of Bermuda's most successful male models on the international scene, is hosting the workshops.

Part of the aim is to help prospective winners to understand international modelling contracts, and they will learn how to apply various types of make up for different settings, such as day, night and fashion.

They will learn the importance of skin care and nutrition, emcee scriptwriting, along with learning to present or working various garments on the runway.

The show that will be promoted for this display will be "Divas" and will be held at the Berkeley Institute on December 8.

Amir says that the competition went extremely well last year, but they are doing it again because they need 15 girls for the Bermuda Next Top Model Competition.

"But before that actually happens, there is a lot of things that they need to go through to prepare them, for instance, how to do make up, skin care, nutrition - there are a whole lot of things that need to be covered," he explained.

"And being the producer, it means that I don't have to do them simultaneously."

If you are not five-foot-nine, but still have an interest in modelling, Amir says that he will be putting on shows for other sectors of the community.

"I am going to produce special shows for fuller figured and petite girls here in Bermuda.

"I am also going to begin flying in designer garments for these shows, as I have done before."

He says that if the young women are serious about a career in modelling, but they have to step up to the mark.

"If you are interested in a modelling career, whether local or international, then you have invest in yourself, you'll have to invest time, and a little bit of money, but it is the real deal!"

Some of the other things that will be of interest is designer gear from the Amir Collection.

This year he has cut out the modelling section for guys and has replaced it with presenting or emceeing.

"I really need to focus on the females for the runway situation, because when I divide my energy between bother, it can be a bit much," he said.

"But with the presenting, I will select the best student to co-host the show on December 8th. Just to kind of expose, them locally and if they want to do red carpet presentations or do vox pops on the red carpet or if they want to do live shows, then this will be the training ground.

"Presenting will also help to raise their self esteem levels of these kids, because the one's that did it last time, came out as new people.

"I did an incredible edit of last time's show and it was beautiful. The parents came out and they supported and voted with flashlights - it was incredible."

Amir is very passionate about the entertainment industry and he believes that he must give back.

"When I say, 'give back,' I don't mean it to be cliché, because there were a lot of adults who gave me the opportunity to express myself back in the day.

"I want to say, Patricia Pogson (Nesbitt) - she really gave us a venue to express our talents and I am trying to be the her of yesteryear, now. Because of the kids don't see that they can express their God given talent.

"A lot of kids don't want to be in the corporate world - they want to be entertainers.

"I am also thankful that the sponsors have come through and I love that a lot of adults love what Gino Productions is doing - sometimes it is challenging, but nothing worth having comes without a challenge."

"It is fun, I am still in the fashion industry, but I want to add more Bermudians because a lot of people don't know where Bermuda is or of Bermudians in the entertainment industry.

"There is Daren Herbert and a few others - there is another guy who does set design and worked on one of the Harry Potter movies."

He is attempting to bring in friends from Access Hollywood.

"One of them is really busy now, but really wants to come, but at some point these internationals are coming to Bermuda," he assured the public.

"I also spoke to designers both in New York and South Africa and their stuff is off the hook.

"I need to have to right programme - I need to have the right cast - image is everything."

Workshops begin at 11 a.m. For more information ring 296-2605.