In each issue and after every major competition, we like to reminisce about the benefits and opportunities of attending a modeling school and their associated conventions. But what about after the convention? What really happens after these young people have striven to perform at the pinnacle of their professionalism before the agents and scouts who can make or postpone their career desires? What happens after the callback? Do we ever see them again? If you are from Barbizon, the answer just might be “yes.”

It could be the way they make eye contact. It could be the way they move and work with the music. It could be as simple as following directions.

We, here at Pageantry, can tell you about few of the success stories that have arisen through the Barbizon modeling competition, because Pageantry has been able to work with some of the most impressive young people from Barbizon through the years. Over the course of 14 years producing the Pageantry and PromTime Fashion Showcase, the magazine has featured both female Barbizon models — often the stars of the showcase — as well as male Barbizon models.
Quite often, when scouting a convention or attending a seminar, the young talent will stop to ask us, “What specifically are you looking for?” And the answer we give may seem to be more rhetorical than specific. What is “it” that we as modeling scouts and agents look for? Succinctly, there is no one thing that we can possibly point to as the “it” factor.
When scouts and agents in attendance at conventions compare notes, all of us seem to draw the same conclusion. “It” is not always a specific, but a general “look and presence” that is the determining factor. Some might call “it” a demeanor or attitude. When interviewing talent hopefuls or watching models perform on the runway, we find that a certain indescribable “it” will catch our attention. It could be the way they make eye contact. It could be the way they move and work with the music. It could be as simple as following directions. Hopefully, the “it” factor that grabs the scouts’ and agents’ attention will transform this stranger into someone familiar, and out of that could come a working relationship that can benefit both parties. Sometimes, though, after speaking or working with a young talent, an agent or scout will find that their personalities don’t mesh; in that case, both parties move on and learn from the experience.

Photos of many of the Barbizon models who have appeared in the Pageantry & PromTime Fashion Showcase

THEY’RE STILL IT: Past Barbizon photo shoot participants include: 1) Cover model Joanna Dickey, 2) Philip Burrow and Amy Karkowski, 3) Anthony Fite and Caleigh White, 4) Jovanna Thornton and Michael Gudger, 5) Doug Shoffner and Laura Echols, 6) Quest, 7) Laura Leary and Brian Whelan, and 8) Emmy Woodhall.

Interestingly, when scouting for print, it is considerably different from scouting for runway or other segments of the modeling profession. In choosing models to be featured within the pages of Pageantry, we need to adhere to strict guidelines, especially concerning height and build. Many of the gowns we shoot are one-of-a-kind samples, and have not yet been produced for the mass market. For that reason, most of the time we do not have many dress sizes to choose from, and we must find models who can fit into the manufacturers’ samples.
Additionally, when choosing models, the type of job — in our case, a major national fashion shoot — will dictate the needs of the publication. In a large shoot such as Pageantry and PromTime, with numerous outdoor locations and its limited time frame, we need to work with several models simultaneously in order to accommodate dressing needs, breaks between shooting, and scheduling, because the outdoor lighting can sometimes wreak havoc on the best-laid plans. This takes a model with a flexible, upbeat attitude and the stamina to stay cool even as the shoot schedule turns up the heat — or, as was the case this past fall, the models braved Hurricane Frances and helped us accomplish the 2005 Pageantry and PromTime Fashion Showcase.
In order to present the gowns in their best fashion, we likewise look for models who we feel are right for the job and possess the “it” factor. We look for a diversity of hair color, hair length, and ethnicity. We look for a cross-culture of our industry and of the young ladies who will eventually purchase these designs. In this regard, Barbizon has come through year after year. You may recognize several of the models on these pages from previous showcases. The latest, and a new face to watch, is the young model from the 2005 Pageantry and PromTime Fashion Showcase, Joanna Dickey, Ms. Barbizon 2004, who appears on the cover of our Spring 2005 edition.
What does this overview mean for those of you who dream of appearing in a print fashion shoot someday? We encourage you to continue to follow your dreams and perfect your craft. Nothing truly worth having comes easily. Practice your talent, become comfortable speaking to large crowds, and believe in yourself. The “it” will surface for those of you who truly wish to work. There is room for those who attend the right schools and classes. Barbizon has proven itself a leader in developing young talent, just as have many other schools and training centers. The difference between success and also-ran just may be the people you work with. All of the talent in the photographs you see here have come through Barbizon and have been discovered at a modeling convention.
In essence, “it” will always find a way to express “itself.” Who knows — maybe you could be “it” next!

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