THE NEXT DIRECT CHILDREN'S MODEL COMPETITION 2010 in Association With Wilhelmina Models

NEW YORK, March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- To help launch NEXT DIRECT in the US, Wilhelmina Models is partnering with this favorite British brand in a coast-to-coast search for a bright new junior modeling star – aged 4 to 7 years.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100304/LA62749LOGO)

From now until March 15, 2010, THE NEXT DIRECT CHILDREN'S MODEL COMPETITION 2010 invites US parents or legal guardians to submit pictures of their children or legal wards for public online voting at Facebook.com. The fifty contestants who amass the most votes by the closing date (March 15) will be flown to Los Angeles, California for a fun-packed two-day finals event at Universal Studios on April 24 and 25.

At this event, the overall winner will be selected by a judging panel drawn from top executives at Wilhelmina and Next on the basis of photographs taken during the program of activities, together with an ability to represent the spirit of the Next brand as well as work confidently in front of a camera within a fashion setting.

Up for grabs is an exceptional prize: a $100,000 college scholarship fund, plus a one-year modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models. In addition, the winner will participate in a fashion photo shoot for Next. 

Next is one of Britain's leading fashion names, specializing in quality, stylish but affordable clothing and accessories for men, women and children. In addition to over 500 stores in the UK, and 170 others in Europe and Asia, Next is already the biggest fashion e-tailer in Europe. The brand is now available to home shoppers stateside, online at nextdirect.com.

Wilhelmina Models is celebrated as the agency that helped launch the careers of Sarah Michelle Gellar, Katherine Heigl, Natalie Portman and Amanda Seyfried. This competition presents a unique opportunity to find America's next "it" boy or girl for the children's division, Wilhelmina Kids.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Only children born on or between April 1, 2002, and March 31, 2006, are eligible. 
• The photo submitted via Facebook must be of the child only, and may not include any other person or animal
• The photo must depict the child fully clothed, without make-up, not wearing swimwear, underwear or a school or sports uniform
• Parent or guardian submitting the photo must own the rights to the photo or must have an assignment of copyright.
• The child and entrant must be contractually able to enter into an exclusive one year modeling contract for the child with Wilhelmina Models.
• The photo must be consistent with Next's reputation in the marketplace and must be suitable for audiences of all ages. Photos will be disqualified that, in the Sponsor's or judges' sole discretion, contain any content that is vulgar, offensive, inappropriate or objectionable in any way, within the context of a family-oriented contest featuring children's photographs. 

THE CONTEST

• Submissions will be accepted from February 18th to March 15th
• Contestants must enter online at www.facebook.com/nextdirect
• A parent or guardian may enter more than one of their children, but may enter each Child only once.  If more than one parent or guardian enters the same Child, the entries will be treated separately and votes will not be combined across entries.

PRIZES

• Fifty finalists will be flown to Los Angeles, CA for a two day trip and party at Universal Studios along with 1 parent or guardian.
• The Grand Prize winner will receive a $100,000 college scholarship fund, a one-year modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models, and will participate in a fashion photo shoot with Next Retail Limited. 

ABOUT WILHELMINA MODELING AGENCY

Wilhelmina Models, which was founded by supermodel Wilhelmina Cooper in 1967, represents more than 1,000 models in their New York, Los Angeles and Miami offices.  In 2008, the agency became the first modeling company to go public. The agency has launched the careers of many superstars, including Angelica Huston, Whitney Houston and Lauren Hutton as well as Mark Vanderloo, Gabriel Aubry, Alexandra Richards, Theodora Richards and more.

SOURCE Wilhelmina Models