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.
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.
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!!!
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