Record crowd at Australian model search

Posted by mija on Jun 10, 2006 in News | 0 comments

A suburban Melbourne shopping centre might be far from the catwalks of Paris and Milan, but six local beauties are hoping just such a place could prove a launching pad for supermodel stardom.
The girls were among hundreds of would-be models who dressed to impress today at Westfield Southland as part of a national model search.
More than 700 girls turned out for the 2006 Girlfriend Schwarzkopf LIVEColour Model Search, a record crowd according to Girlfriend magazine editor and judge Sarah Oakes. “It’s the most people I have ever seen at a model search before, so it’s very exciting,” Ms Oakes said. “We’re just really looking for someone who’s a bit quirky and unusual and unique because they’re the models who are doing well at the moment.”
Each entrant was paraded before a panel of judges who had the arduous task of selecting the best six.
They will join 24 other state finalists who make the cut from thousands of hopefuls at auditions across five capital cities. A final short-list of six girls will feature in Girlfriend’s September issue, when readers can vote for the winner who will be announced in November.
The winner will receive a two year modelling contract with Next Model Management in New York and a crack at the big time.
“It’s a very prestigious competition,” Ms Oakes said. “Basically all of last year’s winners were stars at this year’s fashion week.”
Auditions will be held in Adelaide next week. The six Melbourne finalists are Simone Berman, 15, of Hawthorn East; Abbie Couchman, 18, of East Brunswick; Estelle Griepink, 14, of Ashwood; Shanina Shaik, 15, of Hoppers Crossing; Casey Vissenjoux, 13, of Mooroolbark and Georgia Wyllie, 14, of Launceston, Tasmania.