Earl Marriott grad making waves on catwalk

Jessica Leigh Wozniak is in the top 20 in the ITM-NSR Model Look North America 2011 contest.

Devin T. Gong/devinfoto photo

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White Rock born and raised Jessica Leigh Wozniak, 18, is making some waves in the world of modelling and high fashion.

The Kwantlen Polytechnic University student and Earl Marriott grad has placed in the 20 finalists of the River Rock Resort ITM-NSR Model Look North America 2011 contest.

The top 20, chosen from a field of more than 85 semi-finalists, were announced at Ferrari Maserati’s Vancouver showroom April 27.

That puts Wozniak firmly in the running for more than $10,000 in prizes, including an all-expenses paid trip to China to represent ITM and North America in the country’s largest model search, the New Silk Road Model look Contest.

“I feel really excited and really happy,” said Wozniak, who began her modelling career with a John Casablancas modelling and acting program when she was 10 – which led to photo shoots and apperances on such television productions as The Dead Zone, The Ranch and Sisters.

“Hopefully I place either first, second or third and get to go to China.”

She won’t learn that until the finale show of the Model Look contest, scheduled for Thursday, June 2, 2011 at River Rock Show Theatre.

In the meantime Wozniak, who works as a barista at Cerealicious Eats at Morgan Crossing when not majoring in Criminology at Kwantlen Polytechnic, will be participating in six weeks of intensive training, including photo shoots, interviews, workshops, fittings and fashion shows.

“It’s a great opportunity, working with the industry’s top designers, directors photographers and makeup artists,” said Wozniak, an admirer of top model Agyness Deyn, who said she also fully plans to pursue a modelling career as well as her education.

But she would also like to be involved in creating fashion as well, she said, citing the influence of favourite designer Betsey Johnson.

“I love fashion and clothes – it’s a real passion of mine,” she said.

Other interests for the busy young woman include fastpitch (she’s been in the South Surrey/White Rock program for 12 years), soccer, snowboarding, wakeboarding and musical theatre.

And while it won’t affect the outcome of the Model Look contest, the local public can show their support of Wozniak by voting on-line in an ITM Glamour Model web vote at ITMModel.com – and viewers of the site and her video can vote every 24 hours up to June 2.