Rima Shah
About 300 teenagers and young adults catwalked at the JCPenney and
Seventeen magazine modeling tryouts at the Glendale Galleria
Thursday, sashaying their way toward a fashionable future.
For some of the 13- to 21-year-olds, it was a chance to have a
good time. The rest hoped to make a name for themselves in the world
of glamour.
"I want to be a model, and this seems to be fun," said Fatima
Trujillo, 16, of Alhambra. "Fashion and glamour just attract me."
It was the tall, slender girl's first fashion tryout, and even
after her time on stage was over, the nerves remained.
"My hands are still shaking," Fatima said.
Fatima went with a friend, Paulina Truong, who also had dreams of
making it in the fashion world.
"I always wanted to be a model since I was a kid," said Paulina,
15, also of Alhambra. "People always told me that I should try it out
because I have long legs, but it is something that I really wanted to
do for myself. I want it for my career."
For JCPenney and Seventeen magazine, the fashion show is a
marketing event for the upcoming prom season, said George Beck,
marketing specialist for JCPenney Corp.
The company holds similar fashion shows in 19 locations throughout
the country, Beck said.
"L.A. is an important market for us, and Glendale is one of our
better stores," Beck said.
About 20 contestants were chosen from Thursday's events. These
winners will catwalk Saturday at 1 p.m. outside JCPenney at the
Galleria in the store's hottest prom fashion.
Winners and audience members will get their hair done free.
"We give the girls an opportunity to participate, to be a
real-life princess for a day," Beck said.
Beck said he was surprised at the large number of male
participants in the show.
One of them, Eleazar Pagsisihan, was a crowd favorite with his
dancing abilities.
"I just thought it would be fun," he said. "I've been dancing for
three years. I like clothes a lot. It's a great experience."
The show was peppered with music, contests and free giveaways.
American Idol finalist Jasmine Trias performed at the show. Kyle
Brandt from the NBC soap "Days of our Lives" and Charles Divins from
the NBC soap "Passions" were the judges.
