Canton, OH (March 6, 2009) - An energetic group of semi-finalists competed in the
Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Fashion Show Luncheon "Top Model Competition" on Feb. 27. The 34 semi-finalists took the stage at Timken High School auditorium before an enthusiastic audience of several hundred family and friends.
At the end of the event, eight TOP MODELS were selected to walk the runway at the 2009 Enshrinement Festival Fashion Show Luncheon, including:
Age 18 to 25: Rebecca Blankenship (North Canton) and Allison Swarny (Bolivar)
Age 26 to 39: DeShawna Petties (Canton) and Jak Taylor (Canton)
Age 40 to 49: Cynthia Brown (Uniontown)
Age 50 and older: Pasquale D'Aurelio (North Canton), Pamela Ohman (Canton), and Marguerite Young (Sagamore Hills)
These winners were selected from a pool of semi-finalists throughout Stark County and Northeast Ohio, including nine semi-finalists from Canton, four from Massillon, four from Louisville, three from North Canton, three from Akron, and one each from Alliance, Bolivar, Cuyahoga Falls, Fremont, Navarre, New Philadelphia, Sagamore Hills, Scio, Seven Hills, Uniontown and Willoughby Hills.
The semi-finalists were grouped into age categories and each contestant had the opportunity to model a casual, daytime outfit as well as an evening "after-five" selection of their own choosing. Contestants were scored on the basis of runway walk, appearance, poise, and personality. The panel of Top Model judges included: Robert Ball, owner of Henry B. Ball Jewelers; Emily Larrick, owner, and Amber Michael, stylist, Aura Salon and Spa; Vandana Patel, choreographer and entertainment freelance artist; Dolores Pressley, founder and principal, Born Successful Institute; and Laura Zaleski, owner/director of Zaleski Productions. Betty Smith, chairman of the Fashion Show Luncheon Committee, served as emcee for the evening, and entertainment was provided by Canton Idol contestants Ariel Bryan and Justine Chenault.
The eight top models will be among the 30 models in the Enshrinement Festival Fashion Show Luncheon to be held on Friday, Aug. 7, at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. The Fashion Show Luncheon is arguably the largest and finest fashion show in Ohio, featuring state-of-the-art sound, lighting and video to showcase 200 of the season's hottest male and female fashions in a high-energy production. Tickets for this fashion extravaganza are available by contacting Kim Miller at (330) 458-2048 or by visiting the Enshrinement Festival office at 222 Market Avenue N, in downtown Canton, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. 5 p.m.
The competition was made possible through the generous support of Aura Salon & Spa and the Special Improvement District and its downtown Canton restaurants. Check the Web site for complete Enshrinement Festival information: www.profootballhofef.com.
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PHOTO: (l to r) Pasquale D’Aurelio, Marguerite Young, Cynthia Brown, Pamela Ohman, Rebecca Blankenship, Allison Swarny, DeShawna Petties, Jak Taylor