Ford Supermodel of the World Contest

The Winner: Sanne Nyjhos of The Netherlands

(All photos by Randy Brooke for Lookonline.com)

Ford Models announced the winner of their yearly Supermodel of the World contest last night, January 17, 2006, at a fashion show held at Skylight

Sanne Nyjhos of the Netherlands took the edge from Viktoryia Makhota of Belarus in a tight race for the $250,000 modeling contract. The panel of judges consisting of Eileen Ford, Katie Ford (CEO) and a team of managing agents in the New York office, covered their bases and announced more runner-ups than the usual 2 from the 45 finalists representing their countries. Second runner up was Marie Louise Korsager from Denmark, followed by a brunette with blue eyes, Vanessa da Cruz from Brazil and Kate Somers from Canada.

The fashion show, sponsored by G’Day USA’s Australia Week (Fashion Designers Association of Australia), featured 7 up-and-coming Australian designers ((Toni Matecevski, Le Grew, Kylie Zerbst for Obus, Gail Sorronda, Ruth Tarvydas, George Wu and Alvin Fernandez for Ael’kemi.) The fashion show opened with 8 aborigines flown in from Sydney, moving to the primal sounds of their native music. After the show, the beautiful Ford model/actress, Patricia Velasquez, took center stage to announce the winners.

The fashion show and party after the show, ably handled by the PR firm, Laforce+Stevens, had the guests drinking ‘everything Australian’ (wine, vodka, etc.) In full force was the Ford family of models including Carmen Dell’Orefice, Crystal Renn, Juliana Imai, Cameron Russell and past winners: Katya, Chanel Iman and Camilla Finn. The guest of honor was John Olsen, the Australian Council General. Guests’ goody bags were hair products from the other sponsors, Westfield and Nexxus Salon Hair Care.

Asked about Ford’s position on the recent health guidelines set by the CFDA regarding ultra thin models, Katie Ford exclaims, “We love the guidelines!” This is not a surprise as Ford is known for its strict handling of models. Craig Lawrence, one of the judges and a women’s division agent at Ford, “We have been speaking to the models about drinking and asking the designers to have healthier fare backstage for the models besides champagne. In fact, nutritious meals from NuKitchen is being served to the contestants for the duration of their stay in New York.”

The Ford modeling agency, a fashion institution, is in their 60th year this coming October. With six decades of providing the fashion world with the “clean” look – healthy, wholesome, all-American look (Christy Brinkley, Cheryl Tiegs, Christy Turlington, to name a few), this blue chip modeling agency continues that tradition in their choice of winners for the 26th Supermodel contest. Eileen Ford, the ultimate ‘den mother’ of fashion models, resplendent in a red satin suit, looked proud and pleased with all her children.

-Anna Bayle

Additional runway photos: picture 1 picture 2 picture 3 picture 4 picture 5 picture 6