Elite Model Look

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Stephanie Grubesic

Canada's entry at eml was someone familiar to modelresource readers. Stephanie Grubesic first appeared in our 2005 New Face Preview, and has been featured a couple times since. A strong runway presence with a great face and figure, the Ottawa teen is expected by Elite Canada to have a great future in the industry.

"She did so well," beams MacGillivray. "When the girls had walking lessons her walk was bang-on. They didn't even correct her. Bang-on! I always knew she was a great walker, but it was great to see nonetheless.

"I saw her make friends. She got a great response. The magazines that were there all commented on her and thought she was gorgeous."

Despite eleven days of preparation, the competition itself lasted just a couple hours. The girls presented several runway routines (presentations by country, a traditional Chinese presentation in Qipao dresses, a segment in bathing suits and a dance routine), before France's Charlotte Belliard was selected as the overall winner.

MacGillivray, herself a former model, found that everyone - including herself - came away with something very worthwhile. "Outside of our industry people think it's a scary business of fashion. I've found it so amazing seeing those young girls and what they aspire to. Watching them grow, watching them have fun, watching them make friends. It's a win-win for these girls because they're meeting so many people. It's all very positive.

Elite Model Look Stage

"There are some touching stories that I can't even talk about because they were so personal for me and for the girls... girls that didn't believe in themselves from day one, and by day twelve were like young women, completely transformed, confident. We saw girls' confidence growing by the day. They all worked so hard on things like learning to walk because they wanted it to be so perfect."

MacGillivray is now looking forward to returning as a chaperon for eml 2006, which will be held in Thailand.

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