POTENTIAL models of all nationalities are being sought for a new Irish television programme.
Sideline Productions is putting together a series called The Model Agent for RTÉ television and is presently looking for fresh faces to capture on camera. Spearheaded by Fiona Ellis, a model scout from Independent Models in London, the programme-makers have already held open auditions in Dublin, Galway, Cork and Belfast.
According to Ellis, who has discovered some of the world's most famous models - including Erin O'Connor and Helena Christensen - all residents of Ireland, whether from the native or ethnic communities, are welcome to enter. "I am here to find a girl who will be successful in the international market," she told Metro Éireann. "I have been here before and I know that Irish girls have great character. Having a good personality is one of the core attributes for being a model."
Already, she says, her team has seen "some amazing girls". Ellis said she has been impressed with the standard and pleasantly surprised at the diversity of the girls coming forward. "Although we are in Ireland looking for the Irish girl, as long as they are resident here then we would love them to enter the competition. We have had some beautiful eastern European and some exquisite black girls but the search is by no means over." The team is still taking applications, and Ellis is keen to point out that the accompanying pictures need only be "snapshot quality", commenting: "A girl's potential can be seen from a holiday snap."
All work involved in the production and competition will revolve around the school holidays and Ellis said that many of the girls on her London books are doing modelling "while getting through college". Further information is available at www.sideline.ie
