A Model Search
[ 12 December 2007 ]
On Saturday morning, I woke up at 6.30am to offer my services as an extremely amateur make-up artist at a modelling competition. Earlier that week, my teacher had asked me & a couple of other girls in my class to help her do faces at a show, & I was delighted (& totally flattered) to accept. My friend & fellow make-up artistry student Anna & I met up on a street corner, bleary-eyed & nervous, & were escorted to Chadstone by Audrey. What a champ!
Fuelled by V energy drink & Freddo chocolate frogs (cornerstones of any fine breakfast!), we arrived at Chadstone & descended on the management boardroom. Our make-up teacher was already there, looking fabulous, as always. She gave us all a photocopy of the looks we were supposed to do & outlined how to do it. Then the models were sent in, & we started to work!
Caroline, my make-up teacher, on the left.
I have to admit that I had some preconceptions about what the models might be like. I thought it was very possible that they would all be super-tall, super-thin, & maybe a bit snotty. I thought they might speak in single syllables or be rude or just refuse to talk at all. Thankfully, I was completely wrong! The models I made up couldn’t have been sweeter. They were all young (ranging from 14 to 19 years old), really lovely & quite nervous.
Hard at work… or hardly working?
The first girl I worked on recognised me from Cosmopolitan & told me excitedly how much she loved my column. (Awww!) When I asked her about the competition, she said that she didn’t really care about the modelling contract (the major prize up for grabs), but was really excited about the possibility of winning shopping vouchers… !
All of the models I spoke to had never done anything like this before & really didn’t know what to expect. One boy I made up had never worn make-up before, & it was so cute to hear his observations as I moved the brush over his face. “Oh wow, that’s really relaxing, like a little massage!”, he said. He was adorable.
Anna does a face.
When Audrey got bored of being the official paparazzo, he offered his services as a manicurist…
How sweet!
At one o’clock, Audrey, Anna & I scooted over to where the competition was being held. A girl with a huge, awesome afro was the MC & after a bit of the usual “thanks to our sponsors” chat, the models started to come out. They were in groups of three & they had to walk to the end of the runway, look at the judges, pose & walk back. It was interesting to see the variety of confidence & skill. Most of the girls seemed really into it, even the ones who couldn’t walk in the heels they’d been given, but the boys were not as happy to be there! Their walking styles ranged from slightly simian to really robotic to extremely elephantine.
I do my little turn on the catwalk…
I watched the people I’d worked on with the most interest. I really wanted them to win! (In the picture above, I did the make-up on the boy walking & the girl in the yellow shoes.) At one point all the girls were asked to line up for a photo, & I was thrilled to see the two girls I’d made up posing like professionals (hands on hips, elbows pointed back)! They were working it “like the rent was due tonight”, as Jay Alexander says.
The stage cleared so the judges could deliberate. After five minutes of bad DJ’ing, one of the judges came back on stage to announce the winners — one boy & one girl. Imagine my pure delight to see that the winning girl was one whose make-up I’d done!
She is victorious!
I was so happy for her! She was such a sweetie, & when she won, the crowd went crazy! The winners each received a 24-month contract with Cameron’s modelling agency, a pair of jeans & about $3000 worth of shopping vouchers. The stuff dreams are made of.
It was a totally unique experience, & I’m so glad I agreed to do it. It’s really satisfying & cool to see the “fruits of your labour”, as it were, walking down a runway. I felt like a proud mother! It was a long day but absolutely worth it.
Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala 
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Wow, the girl who won is really beautiful!
I know! She’s a knock-out. She was 14 or something — the mind boggles. & she had the most beautiful skin. Jealous!
Whyy did I not go to Chadstone that day!? :(
It’s 5 minutes away from me, and that looks like it would’ve been really interesting & exciting!
I remember when my cousin was in a model search at Chadstone – she got told she was about 3cm too short! But I thought she was the best there, haha.
Miri — I had never been there before, that place is crazy! I don’t know if I’ll go back in a hurry; malls give me The Fear :D
I was dressing models for the UTS graduate fashion show last week, and I know what you mean about feeling like their mother! this wasnt even a competition and every time I put my model in a new outfit I would rush to the monitor and watch her on the runway! haha.
I am sooo envious of any girl who has that kind of skin D:
Just out of curiosity, what were the general heights of girls there?
You teacher is gorgeous :o!!
I’d think about being a model, but I’m too short (only 1.64 mt)...:(!
Gala,
that all sounds so fabulous. what i want to know is where you took a makeup class. i’ve been interested in taking a beginners course but don’t know where to find one.
Wow! That’s amazing, Gala, congrats! She looks really, really beautiful, your makeup definitely compliments her.
Awww, you’re so cute with your blow-by-blow account and your emotional investment and your maternal pride! Yay!
Wow!!
That must have bee interesting, Ive always wanted to do some backstage work in fahion show or something like it.
Anyways, I think it is great that one of your dirls won, she is gorgeous and I loved Audrey offering his manicurist services, he’s so sweet.
Kisses.
That’s so cool! Also, I am obsesses with the braid the blonde in the first picture has. I wonder how she did that…?
Eee! That’s like my dream job! (Well …maybe on a slightly more gradiose scale). What an opportunity! Jeepers, I hope you don’t get any other job offers Gala … you wouldn’t leave us to stir the iCing bowl all alone while you run off to pamper Elle Macpherson would you? Would you? *Panics slightly *
that must have been such an awesome experience. and that girl winner really is gorgeous, and only around 14? daaaaamn. i’m jealous! i was a geeky little awkward thing at 14.
Wow, high fives Gala! Your makeup is fabulous, please spill some beauty tips soon!
I love your hair! In that picture of you, you can really see the shape of the cut. It’s just lovely!
Good to see your staying true to your kiwi roots by drinking V!!
de Profundis — I’m not exactly sure, since mostly they were sitting down! But I’d say they were probably all above 5’7”.
fran — I know!! She’s the most incredible looking woman I’ve ever met.
Lucy — I took my course at a place that does beauty training (hair, beauty therapy, make-up). There are lots of places that do it but it’s best to do some research & find out who offers the best courses. I asked around on Livejournal & got responses from a whole lot of girls who had done make-up classes. Also, what you go for will depend on your budget! There are some insane intensive courses that are thousands of dollars, so yeah, it will depend on what you want!
Beth — It was a braid that started on one side & was pulled across to the other. I didn’t watch them do it too closely, but that’s the gist!
MJ — Hahaha. No. Make-up artistry is really cool but I have other things I want to do with my life!
sarah frost — Ugh, me too, I was terrible!
nic — I love V :D I think Red Bull tastes like fermented pee! (Not that I would know what that tastes like, but in my imagination… you know.)
hey honey, i finally got back control of my account!!! major drama, police report and all.
anyway i’m so glad you were out there having fun while i was having a nightmare! haha. you look so…. concentrated. hee hee! i really wanna learn make up too. the next chance i have i’m enrolling in a shu uemura make up course.
Congrats!!! Your girl is lovely, but I think the red lippie and awesome make-up artistry makes her even more so!
where are you learning make up ? I am seriously considering takin few courses… since everytime I have a photoshoot I sturggle or pay make up artist:( would be cheaper to do it myself …
gilda — Oooh, Shu Uemura. See, that’s something NYC has over other cities: opportunity. Yum. I want to do that too!
Ammu — Thank you honeypuff!
MMM — I went to Headmasters & did a night course (make-up fundamentals). I recommend it very highly, & my teacher Caroline is amazing.
I’m happy for you…i can even feel your happiness!!
I love your hair color! :)