Real Girl Wins SEVENTEEN Magazine′s Nationwide Model Search; Size 12 Kentucky Girl Beats Out Thousands for $10,000 Ford Modeling Contract
SEVENTEEN magazine, in partnership with Ford Models, debuts the winner of SEVENTEEN′s Reader Model Contest in the May issue which is on stands now. Winner Chelsea Grider, 16, a size 12 high school junior from Louisville, Kentucky, is featured in a four page fashion editorial. She was chosen from more than 12,000 model hopefuls to win the contest and receive a $10,000 Ford model contract.
"It′s important for our readers to see themselves reflected in SEVENTEEN and Chelsea has that fresh faced look that I know our readers will identify with," said Atoosa Rubenstein, SEVENTEEN magazine editor in chief. "Of course Chelsea is gorgeous, but it was her vibrant personality that closed the deal because it makes her glow both inside and out. We were looking for a brand ambassador -- her personality and confidence are as important as her look. As America′s biggest selling teen magazine - it′s our responsibility to send this message to our young readers."
SEVENTEEN partnered with Ford Models in the fall of 2005 to bring back the legendary Reader Model Contest from years past, but updated it to make sure that beautiful girls of all shapes and sizes were welcome. The application did not include any height or weight restrictions and the girls were asked to include information about themselves, instead of only focusing on their looks.
Editors from SEVENTEEN and representatives from Ford Models narrowed down a pool of more than 12,000 model contest entries to a group of 17. The semi-finalists were posted on SEVENTEEN.com where readers were asked to vote for their favorites.
Five finalists flew to New York City for meetings with SEVENTEEN and Ford and the winner was announced at a breakfast in Times Square. Chelsea was flown to New Orleans the very next day for an on-location shoot where she modeled the spring season′s hottest new looks. Her four page feature can be found in the May issue of SEVENTEEN which is on stands now.
