Models audition at Livingstone for their time in spotlight

Aspiring models register Saturday to audition for America's Next Top Model at Livingstone College in Salisbury. To be eligible, they must meet certain height and age requirements. Photo by Karissa Minn, Salisbury Post.

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Hundreds of aspiring models waited in line Saturday at Livingstone College in Salisbury for the chance to audition for America's Next Top Model. Photo by Karissa Minn, Salisbury Post.

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Alexandra Watts, of Charlotte, finishes her audition for America's Next Top Model in front of a camera manned by WJZY producer Aaron Rotan. Salisbury resident Lisa Clark, second from right, directed the auditioners Saturday with the help of her daughter, Caroline. Photo by Karissa Minn, Salisbury Post.

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Maklisha Ford, of Kannapolis, performs a runway walk for the camera during her Saturday audition for America's Next Top Model. Photo by Karissa Minn, Salisbury Post.

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Bridgett Irvin, of Salisbury, practices her runway walk while waiting in line for the America's Next Top Model casting call at Livingstone College. Photo by Karissa Minn, Salisbury Post.

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Aspiring models register Saturday to audition for America's Next Top Model at Livingstone College in Salisbury. To be eligible, they must meet certain height and age requirements. Photo by Karissa Minn, Salisbury Post.

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Livingstone graduate Ashley Foster, of Salisbury, poses in line for the America's Next Top Model casting call at Livingstone College. Photo by Karissa Minn, Salisbury Post.

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Hundreds of aspiring models waited in line Saturday at Livingstone College in Salisbury for the chance to audition for America's Next Top Model. Photo by Karissa Minn, Salisbury Post.

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By Karissa Minn

kminn@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Salisbury resident Amber Guinn, 20, waited in a line with hundreds of other aspiring models Saturday outside Livingstone College.

She is a fan of “America’s Next Top Model” and said she has wanted to try out for a long time.

“I’ve always liked modeling,” Guinn said. “When I was younger, I would act like I was on the show.”

Now, she might have the chance to stop pretending.

A casting call for Cycle 18 of the reality series “America’s Next Top Model” was held Saturday at Livingstone in Salisbury.

The nine to 14 cast members on the TV show, which airs on the CW network, compete for a modeling contract over a period of several weeks. During this time, they live together in a house where cameras and microphones record their experiences.

The competitors are trained in modeling, judged by fashion experts in weekly competitions and eliminated one-by-one until a winner is chosen.

Some of the young women auditioning Saturday were used to casting calls. Sierra Ingram, 21, of Salisbury, said she has done runway modeling and numerous photo shoots.

When asked what she’ll do if she makes it on the show, the Winston-Salem State University student answered, “I’m going to represent for Salisbury.”

Others with no modeling experience said they wanted to try something new.

Ashley Foster, 22, also of Salisbury, said she wasn’t too nervous waiting in line. The Livingstone graduate’s real passion is singing, but she decided to try modeling just to see what happened.

“Why not? Why not me?” she asked, echoing a popular phrase Saturday.

Many who came to Salisbury to audition were not from Rowan County. They traveled from Greensboro, Charlotte, Gastonia, Fayetteville and even as far as Cleveland, Ohio, for this summer’s only casting call in North Carolina.

They wore a variety of outfits, from sundresses to tube tops to T-shirts and jeans. Fashionable high heels and platform shoes gave shorter ladies a boost and lifted the already statuesque to towering heights.

To qualify, auditioners had to be female, between 18 and 27 years old and at least 5 feet, 7 inches tall. They were required to submit identification and three photographs of themselves.

Some who didn’t meet these requirements were turned away at the registration table in the lobby of Varick Auditorium.

Once inside auditorium, those waiting to audition saw presentations about Livingstone and videos of upcoming show pilots on the CW.

State Alexander, Livingstone’s executive assistant to the president and director of public relations, said CW affiliate WJZY has partnered with the college for a while.

The Charlotte TV station helps promote the college, he said, and officials from both had talked about working together on one of the station’s promotional projects.

“We found out maybe a month or two ago ... that they would be able to have their next event here,” Alexander said. “It didn’t take us long to decide to do it.”

Once the women arrived in the audition room, they were given three minutes in front of a camera to tell host Tyra Banks why they should be America’s Next Top Model and do their best runway walk.

Kannapolis resident Maklisha Ford, 20, said after her audition that she was nervous but felt good about her performance, and she can’t wait to hear the results.

“It’s surreal. I’m still trying to figure out if I’m really here,” Ford said. “I’m really happy and excited that I got this chance.”

Ford, a student at North Carolina A&T State University, said she has modeled before in a training program at the John Casablancas Modeling and Career Center in Charlotte.

“I love modeling, but I haven’t had a chance to do it because of school,” she said. “I want to keep pursuing it.”

She’s also a big fan of “America’s Next Top Model.”

“I watch it all the time,” Ford said, “even the reruns.”

Contact reporter Karissa Minn at 704-797-4222.