British-Jamaican model Reece Nelson is continuing to build an international modelling career, securing high-profile bookings with luxury fashion houses including Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Gucci, Versace and Emporio Armani.
The 23-year-old is among the models featured in Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall/Winter 2026 global men’s advertising campaign, photographed by renowned fashion photographer Steven Meisel. Nelson travelled to New York over the summer for the campaign shoot, working alongside several international models and South Korean singer San.
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Describing the opportunity as a major career milestone, Nelson said, “It’s always been on my bucket list to tick off a campaign of that calibre.” He added that working with an established Italian fashion house was a particularly special experience.
Born in Britain to Jamaican parents, with his mother from St Catherine and his father from Trelawny, Nelson was discovered at age 16 while walking through South London. He made his modelling debut in September 2019 at London Fashion Week, appearing in Burberry’s Spring/Summer 2020 ready-to-wear collection under then creative director Riccardo Tisci.
Since then, he has maintained a relationship with Burberry through runway appearances, advertising campaigns and lookbooks. His portfolio has also expanded to include campaigns for Gucci, Versace and Emporio Armani, as well as editorial features in international publications such as British Vogue, i-D, Esquire and GQ.
Nelson initially had ambitions of pursuing a career in sports. A former 200-metre runner and high jumper, he was studying sports and exercise science and considering careers in nutrition or sports physiotherapy when an injury to his right adductor disrupted those plans.
He recalled that modelling was never part of his original ambitions, but the opportunity to earn an income encouraged him to explore the industry. Seven years later, he has developed a career that has taken him to international fashion capitals and placed him alongside some of the industry’s leading creatives.
The model also credits the profession with teaching him financial discipline and the importance of professionalism. He explained that modelling income can be unpredictable, with editorial assignments not always providing payment, while advertising campaigns, runway appearances and lookbooks tend to generate earnings.
“It’s taught me to budget,” Nelson said, explaining that he sets money aside during periods of paid work to prepare for slower months.
Despite his international success, Nelson remains connected to his Jamaican heritage. His parents migrated to the United Kingdom approximately three decades ago, and he maintains family ties on the island, particularly in Old Harbour, St Catherine.
He hopes to return to Jamaica for a family reunion, expressing a preference for staying with relatives rather than in a hotel or Airbnb. He also spoke fondly of Jamaican food, family gatherings and the opportunity to reconnect with the island’s culture.
Looking beyond modelling, Nelson is considering opportunities in acting and real estate. He revealed that his agent has sent him film and television scripts and that he has already prepared for auditions.
For now, however, his modelling career continues to open doors, with the latest Dolce & Gabbana campaign adding to a growing list of international fashion achievements.
