Ava T., Age 13 yrs., Take 7!

From the moment we arrived at the Hanover Marriott, I had butterflies in my stomach.  I was only too

My Team! Dubai A

excited to be modeling again at East Coast Starz 7 since my experience at East Coast Starz 6 was AMAZING!  Upon arrival I met with Lauren Handler, the director of East Coast Starz.  She is so nice!  Percy was there too – one of my favorite people at East Coast, she is very sweet and helpful and amazing with all of us girls.  I registered and immediately went over to the store and my mom bought me the exclusive East Coast Starz blinged out two piece “model” sweat suit before they sold out!   My mom then bought a raffle ticket, and we were directed to go see Stacie Fitzgerald at the “Fitz’s House of Style.”  I know Stacie from her adorable daughter Paige who I love so much!  Paige is a top model in NYC so Stacie really knows her stuff.  Stacie had a gorgeous outfit for me to model in for my sponsor outfit.  I was then given the outfit from our Diamond Sponsor Outerstuff for the Teen Runway Showdown.  When Stacie opened up the box and gave me the Brooklyn Nets shirt, I just screamed!  That is my favorite team so I know that a little luck was on my side!

Outfits from Outerstuff... Brooklyn Nets are my FAV team!

After that it was time to meet with my team and practice before hitting the stage in our gorgeous destination outfits.  Our country was Dubai!  My mom bought me a caftan on ebay and we altered it to make it more modern.  It was an incredible outfit and I was ready to strut down the runway.  I had so much fun meeting and bonding with my team.  All the girls were so nice and friendly and we had a great time.

My Dubai inspired outfit!

At Starz 6 I was interviewed by Shirley Grant Management and was chosen for the callback so I did not go to the interviews this time, but my friend Andora from my Dubai Team got called back to meet with Shirley Grant so I was VERY excited for her!  East Coast Starz opens so many doors!  Funny Face Today was also represented at Starz, they are a top modeling agency in New York City.

We then went to our group photo shoot with Olesja Muller and that was fun and amazing.  I felt as though I was in New York on a modeling gig!  We then went directly into our individual photos with Child Essence Magazine and Alexi Kilmer -- her photos are always so gorgeous.  My mom had to order extra pictures!!!  My mom loves East Coast Starz for the memories she gets from all the beautiful photos.

After the photo shoots we had a scavenger hunt and we all laughed and ran around like crazy trying to win the game.  Afterwards we went to the party – Stacie always has the best parties at her pageants.  We danced and talked and everyone was so excited about the competition the next day!

Day 2 arrived and everyone was very excited.  After hair and makeup, it was time to walk the runway in our themed destination outfits.  It was so awesome to see the different outfits for each destination country.  The time came for Team Dubai A to show our modeling abilities and walk the runway in our themed outfits!  We each showcased our outfits and then came back for an encore walk.  One of my favorite things about East Coast Starz is being able to walk the runway, wear designer clothes, mingle with acting agents and top modeling agencies.  Once we finished modeling we then got ready for our sponsor showcase!  My outfit was the cutest blue and hot pink skirt and blue shrug.  Team Dubai A modeled together again in this portion of the competition, but this time we were only judged on our encore so we made sure we practiced, and focused on that.  Once the showcase was over, I got ready for the optional "Pose Off" competition, one of my favorite parts of the competition.  I had so much fun doing the Pose off, I was given the cutest blinged out shirt at registration to wear for the pose off.  One of my best friends Dominique Rivera won the Pose Off!!!!

Rocking the runway for Outerstuff!

As soon as the Pose Off competition was over, it was time for the Teen Runway Showdown sponsored by Outerstuff.  This is where I got to wear the Brooklyn Nets shirt.  I also added a basketball to model with my outfit and I guess that must have impressed the judges because I won!!!!!  I was over the top excited!

At the final show, Team Dubai A did not win the overall competition, but we did win “Best Supermodel
Ability” so we were very happy to have been recognized for our modeling – I thought our team rocked it!

Last but not least…. remember when I told you that my mom bought a raffle ticket?  Yessssss, I won that too!  I won a Pink Limo ride, I won a Bebe’s track suit valued over $300, I won a Juicy Couture outfit and a fashion bag filled with goodies!!  East Coast Starz was a weekend I will never forget.  Thank you so much Lauren and Stacie!