Nine women and two men graced the catwalk at the first-ever Whirl Magazine Model search, but only one pretty face took home the crown of roses--and the honor of being the first to walk the runway at the Pittsburgh Fashion Awards at Heinz Field
By Kimberly Olsen
9/16/2004
and Nancy Kerper
Photo by Ashley Foster
Anticipation graced the main atrium of One Oxford Centre as friends, family, and the models themselves awaited anxiously for the first annual Whirl Magazine model search to begin on September 9, 2004. PJ the DJ electrified the crowd upstairs with techno music, while downstairs the guests indulged on food catered by Asiago.
Jack Tumpson, publisher of Whirl Magazine, was the first to walk the runway as he introduced the celebrity panel of judges, which included Jenna Morasca of Survivor. Out of 151 entrants, Tumpson said, “We ended up choosing 11 because we just couldn’t choose ten.” Finalists included Lauren Bloom, Marlana Dell Brown, Alyssa Daugherty, Matt Dreher, Adam Eppinger, Carla Nernberg, Jacqueline Nestor, Meagan Papparella, Kristin Szarell, Elizabeth Wimer, and Leigh Sulkowski.
Judging was based on runway presence, overall look, and a mock Whirl cover photo that had previously been taken. The models first strolled the runway in casual day wear. For their second and final runway walks, the look was classy black and white evening attire.
Catwalk time was brief, and after deliberation by the judges, the winner was announced. Alyssa Daugherty of Oil City, PA, was crowned the winner of the first annual Whirl magazine model search. She will be the first to walk the runway at Oxford’s Pittsburgh Fashion Awards at Heinz Field on October 7, 2004. Daugherty also won a laser treatment package from Premier Plastic Surgery.
First runner up was Matt Dreher and second runner up was Carla Nernberg.
