> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Holding court to find the next top model - URL: https://www.smdp.com/holding-court-to-find-the-next-top-model-2/ - Published: 2006-11-27T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T23:10:23.000Z - Author: Melody Hanatani - Tags: Crime, Downtown, #archive-import *Working the catwalk to advance young careers* SANTA MONICA PLACE — The next Tyra Banks or Heidi Klum could have been discovered here on Saturday. More than 200 young modeling wannabes crowded Macy’s Court on Saturday to compete for one of 40 coveted spots in the third annual Winterlit Holiday Fashion Show, reminiscent of a scene from the hit television show “America’s Next Top Model,” minus the fighting and crying. The fashion show on Dec. 2 is a promotion for the retail and salon tenants in Santa Monica Place and Bayside District Corporation — the management company that oversees downtown Santa Monica — by showcasing their clothes, hairstyles and makeup on the winning models. Though considerably smaller and less glamorous than the runways in Milan and Paris, some of the winners do go on to pursue acting and modeling careers. James Campbell, of James Campbell Productions, which facilitated the audition and will produce the upcoming show, said he has since come across some of the models from the previous two fashion shows. A career with fame and glamour is the dream of many of the young modeling hopefuls who came out on Saturday. With goals of making it big in the entertainment industry, several saw the fashion show as their springboard. A long line of jittery young boys and girls formed around the escalator in Macy’s Court, where a small runway was erected for the audition. As each contestant made their trip down the runway, the judges graded them on appearance and how their personality and energy shined through during their walk. “If somebody has an amazing personality, we’re not going to turn them away,” Campbell said.“We’re definitely not going on looks alone.” With hair flips, dramatic turns and model-like walks down the runway, many contestants confirmed they practiced their respective deliveries ahead of time. “We practiced down the promenade,” said Ashley Chung and Amy Clark, both 13, of Santa Monica. But rehearsal did nothing to settle the nerves for Chung,who said she was “beyond nervous” while standing in line and seeing the watchful eyes of judges, contestants and the audience. The girls’ efforts paid off, however, with both being selected to perform in next week’s show. Some of the more seasoned models say they were able to turn their nervous energy into excitement, translating into an advantage during the walk down the runway. Kirra Kehoe, 12, of Santa Monica, has gone through seven modeling auditions, but this was the first time she stepped foot on a runway. Kehoe has acted since she was 3, appearing in several commercials and TV shows. It was only recently she decided to enter modeling. “I love fashion and I like to wear clothes and do different poses,”Kehoe said, following her walk down the runway. Kehoe was selected as one of the 40 winners, along with 12-year-old Dakota Carter, a child actor-model who moved to Santa Monica from Hawaii two years ago with his family in order to be closer to the entertainment capital. With dreams to someday make a movie with Eddie Murphy, his favorite actor, Carter said he enjoys modeling, but prefers acting because it involves more people, providing more opportunities to make friends. The young actor, who recently signed with a local talent agency for children, has appeared as an extra in about 10 movies and hopes to appear in a “Law and Order” spin-off series that is still in the works. “We’re determined to make it happen,” said his mother Lorelle Carter. Not everyone came prepared to the show. Krista Circenis, 15, of Santa Monica, was shopping for gifts when she saw the runway and decided to give it a try after hearing from friends over the years that she should consider modeling. “I was nervous at first, but I felt confident and went with the flow,”said the 5’10”Circenis, who found herself among the winners. “Modeling is a very tough and competitive world. It gives you a chance to express yourself with clothing and it builds up your confidence.” Though there is no money or free clothing involved, the winning models have the benefit of listing the fashion show on their resumes. The original fashion show in 2004 only included teenagers and young adults. The field was expanded last year to include younger models in order to give children’s clothing retailers the opportunity to participate. Last year’s audition drew 150 contestants, said Jean Huber, senior property manager at Santa Monica Place. “It’s a fun opportunity for the community to be involved in our holiday season and it benefits our retailers and help draw some traffic into the whole downtown area,”Huber said. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 27, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/112706.pdf?ref=smdp.com)