September 1, 2004
Contest head shot at stardom
40 area young women compete for $250,000 modeling contract
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Head shot, profile and full body shot: three Polaroids that 40 area young women hope will launch them as a super model.
Saturday morning, Marshall Field's hosted a Ford Model Search Super Model of the World event, drawing females between the ages of 14-21. Coming with friends or mothers in tow, these girls aspired to runway stardom - or at least a small taste of it.
"I'm really excited about this, like I can't wait," said Rachele Hubbell, a freshman at Northwestern Michigan College. "I would like a career in modeling. But I don't know about the spotlight thing, I'm afraid I'll mess up."
Hubbell has been a one-woman promoter of the event, telling all her friends about it and bringing one along to share the experience.
Julie Send, a fellow freshman at NMC, accompanied Hubbell somewhat dubiously, unsure of what to expect or do. After filling out application forms, the friends each had a turn with make up artist Lesley Goebel, who applied a light, natural look.
"It made it a little easier to come here with a friend," Send said. "Rachele asked me and I said, 'Why not?'¡"
Then came the Polaroid moment: a Marshall Field's employee snapped the three fated shots.
For Jessica Muma of Kalkaska, the experience was a much-anticipated one. The Kalkaska High School freshman dreams of parlaying her looks, talent and presence into either modeling or pageant fame.
"Ever since I've been nine, I've been in pageants," said Muma, who performs Broadway show tunes for her talent. "I've participated in the MLI Model and Talent Search held in Detroit in 2003, they taught you how to walk the runway."
Kaylyn Ducommun, a ninth grade student at West Junior High School, has a secret for handling that awkward moment when the photographer is in your face for a close up.
"I don't really get nervous, I think of something happy so it's not like a fake smile," said Ducommun, who also aspires to modeling jobs and has attended modeling classes.
Twenty-four Marshall Field's stores around the state are participating in the Ford Model Search Super Model of the World through September 3. This four-weekend event, which began August 14 at stores downstate, will result in 20 finalists chosen by this Thursday.
Judges will choose a winner at a runway show on September 20 in Chicago. This young woman will receive a modeling contract with Marshall Field's worth $15,000. She will then compete in the contest's World Finals event in January 2005, angling for a $250,000 Ford modeling agency contract.
Before the event Saturday, attendees scrutinized their wardrobe to pick out clothes that would show off their style and best features.
"I really like this shirt," said Hubbell of her form-fitting animal print top. "I just picked out a pair of pants. I like to present different clothing."
Hair styling and make up choices were also crucial. But contrary to common belief, less was more.
"You'll see the gamut," Becky Thompson, Account Executive John Bailey & Associates, the public relations firm coordinating the search. "Some girls come all made up but they're really supposed to come natural looking because we're looking for their natural look."
All the girls were invited to have a professional make up artist from the store assist them with their make up. Groebel said used a light touch with the girls she worked on, using sheer, neutral fall tones to bring out features.
"I'm using a little bronzer to give you that sun-kissed look," she told Send, adding about her efforts in general: "I was kind of accenting the cheekbones and the orbital bones around the eye."