Mara Pfeffer

After five hours of casting, over a hundred photos snapped, and days of waiting patiently, the top five have been handpicked by our panel of judges and officially announced… so now what?

This Sunday, these beautiful ladies will be attending a model training session, led by UDress’s fabulous model instructor and former cover model Julia Sczaniecka. They will learn the ins and outs of what it really takes to be on the UDress cover. The agenda includes lessons on photo shoots, runway walking, and posing. In short, these gals will be formally trained in fierce… and as always, you’ll be getting a sneak peek into every minute of it.

The snow may have been coming down outside, but Trabant was smokin’ hot as University of Delaware’s cream of the crop came out to UDress’s first ever cover model search. Yes, that’s right, we gave the whole student population the chance to be the next face of UDress Magazine. And now, we’re giving you a behind the scenes look at how it went down.

Inside the multi-purpose room, our panel of judges awaited the fresh new talent. Featuring men’s style editor Thomas Barranca, former cover model and modeling instructor, Julia Sczaniecka, and model doordinator, Alisha Pilipshen, the judges will be picking their top five choices from the flock of models they have seen today. But what is it that the judges are looking for?

“Confidence, definitely,” said Julia.

“Modeling is all about what they’re thinking on the inside,” Tom added. “If they’re thinking ‘God, I am so gorgeous,’ it shows on their face.”

About halfway through the search, Mizan Kidanie, a cover model hopeful and passionate follower of the magazine, sits anxiously outside the multi-purpose room doors.

“A lot of people would read the magazine and think ‘I wonder how they were able to model for this,’” she said. “I think UD needs a magazine like this, something that’s artistic that represents the students.”

Our conversation is cut short, as it is Mizan’s turn to face the judges. Inside the multi-purpose rooms Mizan is asked to strut her stuff as a song is playing. Then, after two photos, Mizan comes out of the room smiling.

“I just love the magazine and really want to be involved.”

But Mizan is just one of almost 50 fine ladies and gentlemen who came to take their shot at being UDress’s next cover model. Who will make it into our top five? The competition continues, and we will be keeping you posted each step of the way!

Assistant PR Director Emily Barbeau and PR team member, Chelsea Hollowell help potential models fill out paperwork.  The PR team and members of the style team scouted models in and around Trabant.

Potential models fill out paperwork.  One question reads: What are your top 5 favorite designers?

The panel each looked for different things when evaluating a potential model.

Images: Katherine DiMaggio