ACW Worldwide draws a who's who of modelling's elite to its annual casting at the Hudson Hotel library to pose and strut in front of founder Andrew Weir and his team of model makers and breakers. Weir who casts shows for Thakoon, Jen Kao, Rachel Zoe and Rebecca Taylor amongst others, was on the lookout for the next big thing amongst the scores of model hopefuls. Last Saturday, Weir and his team put 300 to 400 models from every reputable New York agency through their paces, culminating with each model being photographed against the library's curtained off windows. Weir reveals to fashionista.com his criteria for getting noticed, "You're not gonna do a show with us unless you can walk. You have to be the complete package. There are some amazing girls that are so beautiful but if they can't walk, maybe next season. In my ten years of experience, I find that if you do use a girl that's a bit wobbly, it just breaks the continuity and effects people in the audience."
As for the future, Weir has his eyes planted firmly on Asia as the next hottest scouting region and reveals to lookbooks.com, "I have never seen so many Asian kids in the market." Weir waxes rhapsodically over Nepalese newcomer Varsha Thapa, "Everyone's going to be talking about Varsha", and referring to her walk adds, "What is that? Are you crazy? That's in your blood, you don't learn that. You think you know what a girl's gonna do, but you never do..." Likewise, Weir gushes to style.com over newcomer Roberta Narciso, "She's from Angola, so she'll walk like royalty." and cannot contain his enthusiasm after seeing her walk, "Oh my God, that is crazy. This does not happen in America." Judging by the photos below, the competition was fierce and wrought with tension. Good luck to all of the models in attendance and we look forward to seeing some of you at New York Fashion Week.
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| Walking the Line Photographer - Richard Guaty Source - fashionindie.com |
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| Models of Composure Photographer - Richard Guaty Source - fashionindie.com |
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| Ranya Mordanova Photographer - Dag Bennstrom Source - models.com |
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| Karlina Caune Photographer - Richard Guaty Source - fashionindie.com |
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| Under Pressure Photographer - Richard Guaty Source - fashionindie.com |
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| Ava Smith Photographer - Dag Bennstrom Source - models.com |
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| Cora Emmanuel has her eyes on the prize Photographer - Dag Bennstrom Source - models.com |
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| Marihenny Pasible Photographer - Dag Bennstrom Source - models.com |
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| No Sweat - Sui He Photographer - Richard Guaty Source - fashionindie.com |
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| You Better Walk - Ajak Deng Photographer - Richard Guaty Source - fashionindie.com |
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| Diversity Rules Photographer - Richard Guaty Source - fashionindie.com |
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| Marihenny Pasible & Unknown Photographer - TK Stewart-Deely Source - fashionista.com |
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| Arlenis Sosa in Action Photographer - Richard Guaty Source - fashionindie.com |
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| Arlenis Sosa & Andrew Weir Photographer - Richard Guaty Source - fashionindie.com |
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| Prized Possession - Varsha Thapa Photographer - Richard Guaty Source - fashionindie.com |
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| Patience is a Virtue Photographer - Dan Nguyen Source - danwin.com |
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| Melissa Tammerijn Photographer - TK Stewart-Deely Source - fashionista.com |
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| Comeback Kid - Tanya Dziahileva Photographer - Richard Guaty Source - fashionindie.com |
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| Samantha Gradoville Photographer - Richard Guaty Source - fashionindie.com |
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| So Young Kang & Hyoni Kang Photographer - Dag Bennstrom Source - models.com |
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| Mina Cvetkovic Photographer - Dag Bennstrom Source - models.com |
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| These boots were made for walking Photographer - TK Stewart-Deely Source - fashionista.com |
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| Make or Break Photographer - Richard Guaty Source - fashionindie.com |
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| Blurred Lines Photographer - Richard Guaty Source - fashionindie.com |
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| Marina Nery Photographer - Dag Bennstrom Source - models.com |
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| Jeneil Williams Photographer - Dag Bennstrom Source - models.com |
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| Priscilla Kabeya Photographer - TK Stewart-Deely Source - fashionista.com |
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| Arlenis Sosa Photographer - Richard Guaty Source - fashionindie.com |
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| In the Wings Photographer - Richard Guaty Source - fashionindie.com |
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| Final Call Photographer - TK Stewart-Deely Source - fashionista.com |