Over the weekend, aspiring models traveled all the way from Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma and headed to New York and L.A. for a casting call for Ford’s Supermodel of the World contest at the W Hotels. In New York, girls braved the weather to stand in line, including the very first girl, who arrived at 7:30 a.m. The search was on for “not just a beautiful girl, but one with great energy and inner beauty.”
Hyoni Kang, the winner from 2008, was there to give the girls moral support and cheer them on. “I think about my experience two years ago. I was nervous, so I’m sure they’re nervous too!” she empathized. We chatted with her about her position as the first Asian girl to win Supermodel of the World, relating her experience to that of Liu Wen’s just this past week. Since her win, Hyoni’s been a busy girl, learning the ways of Manhattan thanks to Fashion Week, gaining confidence in her second language, and even launching her very own vintage line called Reborn Process, which will open in Soho and online.
The winner will take off to Brazil for the event to compete against other hopefuls. After all, there can only be one winner to join the ranks of Hyoni, Chanel Iman, and Jacquelyn Jablonski.
