A wealth of modeling and acting talent entertains
fantasies of stardom at the 2002 Barbizon Competition.

"Lights! Camera! Action!" Those familiar words associated with the movie capital of the world came alive as hopeful actresses, actors, and models from across America arrived in Hollywood this past January for the West Coast Barbizon Convention.

The event was held in the heart of downtown Los Angeles at the glamorous Westin Bonaventure Hotel, one of the gleaming buildings that appears in the opening credits of the L.A. Law television series. Visitors only had to look out the hotel window or the glassed-in elevators to catch a view of the famous "Hollywood" sign overlooking the city. The hotel's glamorous backdrop — only a short distance from Beverly Hills and all the major studios, the Walk of Stars, Grauman's Chinese Theater, Rodeo Drive, and, of course, Sunset Strip — lent an air of show-biz authenticity to the entire convention. The week-long activities schedule would offer ample time for participants to visit all those famous Hollywood sites and capture memories to include in their scrapbooks.

Barbizon franchise directors worked closely with their models and actors during the week, preparing for the many scheduled competitions along with choosing the appropriate selection from the various seminars available. This afforded attendees that special guidance and encouragement from their directors that would assure them the opportunity of making this a worthwhile adventure. Each group shared their hopes and dreams with their fellow contestants, which fostered group camaraderie and new-found friendships.

The seminars available throughout the week were given by professionals in their areas of expertise. The information and tips shared during these programs would be invaluable for those delegates pursuing the show business career of their choosing. Some of the seminar titles available included "Talent and Actors" and "Singers and Dancers." There was even a seminar for parents on "Keys to a Successful Career."

Participants also competed in areas that included runway, talent (dancing, singing), cold reading, monologue drama, makeup, fashion runway, sitcom, and several areas for television, commercials, print, and swimwear. Barbizon directors and fellow group members attended these events to cheer on their colleagues, fostering that wonderful camaraderie.

Mr. and Ms. Barbizon, Tom Anderson and Emmy Woodhall (L-R) will appear in next year's Pageantry PromTime fashion spread.

During the week, talent and modeling agents from around the world gathered to scout the participants in hopes of finding new talent for their agencies. These agents would give call-backs to the individuals with whom they wanted to have a more in-depth interview, during which they reviewed their modeling portfolios while getting to know them better. Out of these call-backs, agents may choose to represent these talented individuals and offer them contracts. Many discoveries made during Barbizon's conventions, such as former Pageantry cover model Gina Lee Nolin of Baywatch, have gone on to success in Hollywood.

As the week drew to a close, the top female and male Barbizon attendees were selected to compete for the titles of Ms. Barbizon and Mr. Barbizon. With so many participants entered, being selected as a finalist itself was quite an achievement. The final interviews of each finalist were conducted by Pageantry magazine Publisher Charles Dunn and executives of Barbizon International. First, the judging narrowed the field to the Top 5. The female finalists were Emmy Woodhall, Desiree McClain, Jill Laughlin, Maria Sanchez, and Jessica Skalla; the top male finalists were Tom Anderson, Eric Galipeau, Joel Nagy, Jasper Littlejohn, and Raphael Smith.

By the time the Barbizon Convention's final evening and awards ceremony arrived, the ballroom was buzzing with excitement and anticipation. Each group, with their directors, sat together, becoming cheering squads for individuals receiving awards. The president of Barbizon International, Tom Blangiardo, recognized each school and congratulated them for making the commitment of attending the convention and wished them all great success in their career choices. After presenting the many awards to participants in recognition of their accomplishments, Mr. Blangiardo then called up the new vice president of Barbizon International, Debra Hall, to assist in the final awards presentation. Ms. Hall then introduced Pageantry Publisher Charles Dunn, who assisted in honoring the Ms. and Mr. Barbizon winners. Mr. Dunn told the audience how pleased Pageantry was to participate in the Barbizon program and spoke briefly about the contribution Pageantry makes in promoting these individuals. As Ms. Hall announced the finalists who were called to the stage, the room filled with cheers of approval. When the final name had been called, after the finalists had received their awards, Mr. Dunn presented the winners with their achievement awards. The Ms. Barbizon winner is Emmy Woodhall of Akron, Ohio, and Mr. Barbizon is Tom Anderson of Schaumburg, Illinois. In addition to the award itself, the prizes included a photo shoot the following day along with a videotaped interview to be used to showcase them throughout the year. The Grand Prize for Ms. Woodhall and Mr. Anderson is an all-expenses-paid trip to model in Pageantry magazine's annual PromTime fashion shoot in Florida. This annual feature, now in its 10th year, has become the largest of its kind in the world, showcasing nearly 300 prom gowns and accessories while also providing a comprehensive guide to prom preparations. PromTime appears not only in Pageantry magazine but also on Pageantry's dedicated web site, www. PromTime.info, throughout the year.

Emmy Woodhall and Tom Anderson are looking forward to taking part in PromTime, along with a select group of male and female models who audition for the coveted honor. They also can take great pride in winning the prestigious Ms. and Mr. Barbizon awards, an achievement they can be proud of as their careers blossom.

Emmy in a photo shoot with Robert Rosamilio of Digital Event Production.

The following day, as convention attendees took in the sites and sounds of Hollywood, the new Mr. and Ms. Barbizon were excited to go on the photo shoot and conduct interviews, and it was apparent that Emmy Woodhall and Tom Anderson had the potential to go far in their careers. They were already proving to be professional representatives for Barbizon International.

The week came to a close at the International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) awards banquet, attended by convention participants, agents and many celebrity presenters. Many of the celebrities who had once participated in Barbizon competition now assisted in the awards presentations, serving as living proof of what kind of success these young delegates could aim for. Pageantry salutes these ambitious attendees for pursuing their dreams and congratulates all of them on their achievements.

For Barbizon's many winners and for all the talented hopefuls, the week of workshops and competition ended on a high note, instilling in each participant feelings of accomplishment. Who knows? Perhaps some of these young men and women may one day find themselves standing on a Hollywood movie set as the director calls out those three magic words: "Lights! Camera! Action!"

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT ROSAMILIO/DIGITAL EVENT PRODUCTION