BY RYAN E. SMITH
BLADE STAFF WRITER
A casting call Thursday for the reality television series America's Next Top Model drew a roomful of would-be models sporting tank tops and skinny jeans. And one woman in a suit.
That would be Victoria Hawkins, 22, the shy administrative assistant from South Toledo whose co-workers surprised her with an application for the casting call where Toledo's CW affiliate, WTO5-TV, taped auditions for the show hosted by supermodel and TV personality Tyra Banks.
"They kind of talked me into coming. … " she said. "This is what I wore to work this morning."
"This" was a brown pantsuit and pink blouse, not the form-fitting kind of thing that some of the others chose. But that's OK with the blond-haired Miss Hawkins.
"I'm down to earth," she said. "I don't want to be flashy."
The event at New York Collection on Dorr Street was open to women between the ages of 18 and 27 who are at least 5 feet, 7 inches tall. More than 35 were in line at one point yesterday afternoon, waiting their turn to answer a few general questions and strut down a makeshift runway between racks of clothes.
Although each applicant will have a tape that is sent to the casting director of the show — in which participants vie for a modeling contract — one local winner was expected to be selected last night, said Cheryl Lightfoot, promotions administrator for WTO5. That person will have an audience with the casting director in New York this weekend.
"We'd really like to have someone from the area on the show. …" she said. "I don't see any reason why we can't compete on a national level."
Shanae Woodard, 27, of South Toledo, was there thanks to some prodding from her mom. She said, "That's all I've been hearing all my life: 'You should be a model.'"
She decided to show off her attributes with black leggings, a black top, hoop earrings, and — of course — high heels.
Moira Glover, 21, came all the way from Cleveland wearing just jeans and a T-shirt. "I wanted them to see my face and not my clothes," she said.
A single mom who works as a legal assistant while taking college courses, she said she has room to add another title: supermodel.
Originally published in The Blade on Friday, April 9, 2010
Retailer’s aisles turn catwalk for model hopefuls
Victoria Hawkins, whose co-workers convinced her to try out, came straight from the office. (THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT)
