THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 9, 1995 TAG: 9506090069
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAM STARR, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
ARMED WITH amateur photos and a ``nothing-to-lose'' attitude, Michelle Griffith surprised everyone - including herself - by snaring one of the top spots in one of the nation's best-known modeling contests.
Using photos taken by her parents, Michelle, a 16-year-old rising junior at Catholic High in Virginia Beach, beat more than 35,000 girls when she was selected as one of eight finalists in the sixth annual Seventeen and JCPenney Cover Model Contest, considered the launching pad for aspiring models.
The finalists submitted high-quality, professional photos - which makes Michelle's selection so ``amazing,'' says Robyn Waldman, publicity manager for Seventeen magazine. The contest was judged by a panel of Seventeen editors.
``The entrants were judged on photographic quality,'' Waldman says. ``The photos Michelle submitted were unprofessional, like Kodak snapshots. But she has an equally good shot at winning - she's a natural beauty and that's what we look for.''
Michelle will be in New York Sunday, along with the other finalists, for the last round of judging. They'll be treated to hair and makeup sessions with leading stylists and will be photographed for a special October issue.
A 5-foot-8, 110-pound track star and cheerleader, Michelle says she was just as stunned as Waldman when Seventeen called a couple of months ago. She entered the contest last year, making it past the first stage, and wasn't going to try again until a friend's mother talked her into it.
Her parents, Veronica and Richard Griffith, snapped pictures of her when she modeled for JCPenney at the Hampton Roads Woman Show in January.
``It was a last-minute thing,'' says the soft-spoken Michelle, her dark- brown hair tumbling past a flawless face. ``I didn't really expect to win. When Karen from Seventeen called I didn't, like, believe her. I was kind of in shock.''
So were her parents. Veronica is a nurse practitioner, Richard, a Navy commander. They have one other daughter, Jennifer, 17.
``I was at work when I heard, and I was like `Oh my God!' '' recalls Veronica Griffith. The family lives in the Wesleyan Pines section of Virginia Beach. ``I told everyone, `My kid's going to make Seventeen magazine!' ''
Griffith added that she's especially happy for Michelle because she's the only Asian-American selected as a finalist, a first in the contest's history. She's also the only finalist who is smiling in her publicity picture. Michelle, who doesn't wear makeup, actually looks her age. The other finalists are heavily made up, with pouting, sullen expressions.
The winner, who won't be notified until the end of August, will appear on the cover of that issue and receive a $1,000 wardrobe from JCPenney. All the finalists each receive a $250 JCPenney wardrobe and will be featured in the October issue. That exposure alone could lead to modeling contracts for many of the girls, says Robyn Waldman.
``This contest is very well-recognized in the modeling industry,'' she says. ``A lot of girls who win get signed in New York. Last year we had our youngest winner ever - 13 years old. But her parents didn't want her in New York, so she does work where she lives, in Houston.
``We're so known for 50 years as launching models,'' Waldman adds, citing Brooke Shields, Cybill Shepard, Niki Taylor and Cheryl Tiegs. ``Every major modeling agency looks to us.''
This sudden burst of fame and the sky's-the-limit opportunities have not seemed to faze Michelle. She still likes to hang out with her friends, go shopping and talk on the phone. Refreshingly humble and quite shy, she's hesitant to even think of what may happen in the next few weeks.
``I would like to model, but I always thought more realistically,'' says Michelle, whose favorite model is Kate Moss. ``I just entered for the heck of it. I'll be fine if I don't win.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN
Beach teen Michelle Griffith is a finalist in one of the nation's
top modeling contests.
Photo
Michelle Griffith is a finalist, despite the amateur quality of the
photos she submitted snapped by her parents.
by CNB