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Sedona Red Rock High School Sophomore Models in LA

Sedona AZ (January 26, 2011) – Sedona Red Rock High School sophomore Jessica Nagy-Cortes recently attended the International Model & Talent Association (IMTA) Los Angeles 2011 competition. The modeling and talent event of the year was held January 10, 2011 at the Westin Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles, California.

Many stars got their start at IMTA, including Ashton Kutcher, Elijah Wood, Katie Holmes, and Alyson Stoner.

Jessica’s modeling and acting career began when she signed an interest card with Barbizon of Arizona while attending Sedona Red Rock High School’s “Career Day.” An invitation to audition with model and talent scout Laura Collazo led to her enrollment with Barbizon of Arizona in May 2010.  

In August 2010, Jessica auditioned with internationally renowned talent scout Laura Gentry, who discovered Eva Longoria. From 350 candidates in Arizona, Jessica was selected as one of the final 33 contestants chosen to represent the Barbizon of Arizona Phoenix/Tucson group at the IMTA Convention.

Participation at IMTA is an important step on the pathway to success for the stars of tomorrow. A week at IMTA is an exciting, educational and entertaining experience. Well trained contestants compete in front of – and learn from – invited Agents, Managers and Casting Directors, who come to IMTA from all over the world looking for new faces. Several modeling agencies from all over the USA attended, as well as from Puerto Rico, Germany, and Canada with nearly a thousand contestants vying for recognition.

Barbizon model Jessica Nagy-Cortes

Jessica decision to compete in every eligible modeling and talent competition within her division categories, fourteen in all, made her eligible for both the Junior Miss Model of the Year and the Junior Miss Actor of the Year award.

IMTA Training Centers from around the world competed in staged Fashion Teams runway shows, an exciting start to a wonderful week and one of the most anticipated competitions. Jessica’s costume, competing in the Queen of Hearts Runway competition, included a 60 yard cotton-candy pink tulle petticoat hand-stitched red sequins adorned with red and white rhinestones, a white ruffled corset with 684 hand-applied rhinestones and red felt hearts, red glitter tulle scarf, fishnets, tiara and red platform shoes. It was a joint sewing effort of both her mother, Lisa Baguley and sister, Marissa Nagy-Cortes. Jessica also competed in Fashion Print, Runway, Swimwear, TV Beauty, Makeup and Jeans.

Jessica’s Talent Division T4 competitions included TV Real People, Theatrical Headshots, Monologue, Cold Read, Sitcom, Entertainment Host, Commercial Print, and Ready for My Close Up. While the majority of Jessica’s competitions were “open set” to registered badge holders, some “closed set” competitions were either taped or privately judged including Makeup, Cold Read, TV Beauty, TV Real People, and Entertainment Host which is read off a teleprompter.

Four of Jessica’s talent competitions consisted of memorized scripts for which Jessica trained with acting coaches. These included a Monologue where Jessica portrayed the character of a disgruntled teenage girlfriend dumped by her ex-boyfriend and to exact revenge, she entices him with cookies baked with Ex-Lax. For her Sitcom, Jessica portrayed an older sister discussing with a younger sibling the realities of catching a mouse in the house. It was performed live in an open set (on stage in front of judges) while acted and read with a casting director.

Jessica chose a Clearasil commercial for her TV Beauty, and a Kmart’s bedding ad for her TV Real People competition. In addition to a full load of daily competitions, checking postings for times and locations, script pick-ups, and last-minute rehearsals with her acting coach, Jessica attended agency meetings with her Directors plus numerous seminars. Education is an important part of the week, and contestants were encouraged to attend as many seminars as possible.

In addition to seminars for contestants, seminars were specifically designed for parents and scheduled throughout the week to provide tips on the modeling and talent industries, as well as the do’s and don’ts, downs and ups of being a “stage-parent.”

Runway seminars, model workshops and one-on-one consultations and portfolio reviews were offered by supermodel Roshumba Williams, and international supermodel Shailah Edmonds. Thursday night’s Overview was the last chance for all contestants to appear on the runway for the Agents, Managers and Casting Directors, one last opportunity to be seen before Callback day.

During Fridays Callbacks, contestants were individually selected to personally meet and interview with various Agents, Managers and Casting Directors. This allowed the contestants an opportunity to showcase their natural personality giving Agents an idea of how the young contestants will handle an audition or a meeting with a Casting Director.

Jessica received a talent Callback from Moonstar Management/SLR Records out of Los Angeles, and interviewed with an additional 10 agencies during open Callbacks. She provided headshots, standard theatrical resumes and competition cards. Only Agents, Contestants and Directors are allowed in the Callback room with the exception of contestants who are 12 or younger who may have a parent in attendance. For Jessica, it was the interview of her life and her time to shine and make her mark.

The Friday night IMTA LA Awards Party provided an opportunity for contestants to dress up and let off steam with a night on the dance floor. Saturday’s final Awards Night Celebration was Jessica’s night of recognition as the recipient of three awards (one team and two personal): the first award was the IMTA Team Performer – 1; the second award was the IMTA award – Honorable Mention for Competition Excellence in the Ready for My Close Up, an award for casting potential, stage personality and on-camera appeal; and thirdly, Jessica’s most prestigious award, the IMTA Junior Miss Model of the Year – Honorable Mention.

Jessica was ecstatic when her photograph was the first to flash on the big screen in the California ballroom. She had accomplished a goal and fulfilled a dream and beamed with confidence while accepting her onstage award. To make the evening more memorable, Alyson Stoner, who appeared in three Missy Elliott music videos, co-hosted Mike’s Super Short Show, was featured on the Disney Channel and debuted in Cheaper by the Dozen, spoke and met with the contestants for photographs.

Jessica is happy that IMTA provided her with an incredible opportunity to meet with Agents, Casting Directors, and personal Managers from all the major national and international markets. It was an important opportunity to grow as an individual, and to learn about TV and the different kinds of modeling. She now realizes how much one must learn about the industry and what it takes to be a top competitor, which encourages her in an industry of 90% rejection.

Jessica extends a sincere thank you to all the friends and family who continue to believe in her ability to succeed, and who so generously helped financially sponsor her to attend the IMTA Convention, with a special thank you to Agency Director, TyRell Gallian, for all her help and hard work.

Jessica plans to become involved in local theatre productions, take acting classes, and continue training classes with Barbizon of Arizona. She hopes to audition and attend the New York 2012 IMTA convention. Individuals interested in contracting Jessica for modeling or acting should address all inquiries to TyRell Gallian of Southwest Models & Talent at (602) 955-2155 or contact Lisa Baguley at (928) 399-0337.

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