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Barbizon Captures New York's Runways

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Javonna Thornton and Michael Gudger
Javonna Thornton and Michael Gudger (a Barbizon Male Model of the Year finalist) both appear in the Pageantry Prom Time Fashion Spread.

More than 1,200 models converged on New York City for one of the year's largest modeling conventions, the International Barbizon Competition. The week-long event, held at the Sheraton New York in the heart of the city, featured both male and female models of all ages from Barbizon schools throughout the world. One of the models' main objectives for the week was to meet with and be interviewed by top modeling and talent agents that were guest of the International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) convention, in which the Barbizon schools participated. Each had high hopes that they might be discovered and that fabled door to success would open to change their lives forever.

Barbizon models told many success stories of being offered contracts from agencies during interview call-backs that would set in motion events that will long be remembered. Barbizon's president and leader Tom Blangiardo worked with each of the schools directors to make sure that each school and attendee had ample opportunities. Many of the schools held parties and activities for their models to take advantage of being in the modeling capital of the world, New York City. Many new friends and relationships developed during the week as a result of the get-togethers, making this a storybook memory that would not soon be forgotten.
Charles Dunn and Javonna Thornton
Pageantry Publisher Charles Dunn is thrilled to present Javonna Thornton with her Female Model of the Year placque.

When competition neared its end, the Barbizon International Female and Male Model of the Year were selected. This all-important decision of choosing Ms. Barbizon and Female Model of the Year and Mr. Barbizon and Male Model of the Year would become the choice of Pageantry magazine's Publisher Charles Dunn and Peter Karrole, a representative of International Male Catalog.

During the close of the Barbizon final night program, Mr. Dunn was invited to speak to the standing-room-only audience and present the awards. Each of the finalist was invited to the stage, where each was presented with an award. The audience applause exploded when the names of Javonna Thornton from Barbizon Syracuse won the title of Ms. Barbizon and Female Model of the Year and Anthony Fite with Barbizon Raleigh won the title of Mr. Barbizon and Male Model of the Year.
Javonna Thornton and Michael Gudger
Convention organizers Tom Blangiardo and Debra Hall are excited about the huge success of the Barbizon convention.

Anthony received an all-expenses-paid trip to model for the International Male Catalog. Javonna received an all-expenses-paid trip to Florida to model for Pageantry magazine's Prom Fashion Shoot. She will be featured in the world's largest fashion spread of its kind that will be released for newsstands in January 2002. The 2002 Prom Shoot also appears on Pageantry's website starting in November and will be showcased for an entire year. The site is at www.pageantry- magazine.com.

This week's experience, with its many opportunities for aspiring models, could easily be summed up in just a few words: Job well done. Tom Blangiardo, president of Barbizon International, along with event coordinator National Agency Director Debra Hall and staff should be congratulated for the exciting and well-organized event that they produced and for their positive effect on the many lives that they have touched. Kudos and congratulations!!!

The winners of the Barbizon competition were:
Ms. Barbizon & Female Model of the Year Javonna Thornton Barbizon Syracuse
Mr. Barbizon & Male Model of the Year Anthony Fite Barbizon Raleigh

Actress of the Year Laura Shannon Barbizon Cleveland

Actor of the Year Aslam Blackman Barbizon Toronto

Young Adult Actress of the Year Ebonie Roberts Barbizon Tampa

Young Adult Actor of the Year Jay Strother Barbizon Atlanta

Junior Actress of the Year Shannon Moran Barbizon Tampa

Junior Female Model of the Year Iskra Stoycheva Barbizon Schaumburg

Junior Male Model of the Year Stephen Szostak Barbizon Toronto

Junior Miss Model of the Year Brittney Lothridge Barbizon Akron

Junior Actor of the Year Dexter McKinney Barbizon Syracuse

Junior Miss Actress of the Year Kelly Dunn Barbizon Philadelphia

Young Miss Model of the Year Cassandra Smith Barbizon Tucson

Pre-Teen Male Model of the Year Michael Strauss Barbizon Philadelphia

Young Miss Actress of the Year Teryn Chin Barbizon Boston

Pre-Teen Actor of the Year Jason Geller Barbizon Boston

Female Child Model of the Year Alyssa Price Barbizon Cleveland

Male Child Model of the Year Kevin Monaghan Barbizon Philadelphia

Child Actress of the Year Emily Lucas Barbizon Akron

Child Actor of the Year Jason Frisbee Barbizon Syracuse



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