The Winners Photo by Glyn Emmerson © 2001 NY Rock

The event began with a sunset champagne reception atop the windswept flight deck of the Intrepid. After enough time to get the platoon of judges, press and invited guests a little gassed, all were ushered into the event tent, canopied to keep the feather-light contestants from flying overboard in the evening breeze. It didn't take long for everyone to settle in along the runway and tiered audience area, graciously appointed in white. Soon the lights dimmed and out came the girls to sell the judges (representatives of W, Vanity Fair, Allure and other fashion-industry insiders) on their sassy assets. To the hard-rocking back beat of Lenny Kravitz, Foghat, and ZZ Top, each comely cutie tried her hardest (some more successfully than others) to look like the supermodels of Elite Look history such as Cindy Crawford, Stephanie Seymour, Frederique and a whole henhouse of others whose names I can barely pronounce, much less spell.

Katarina Muniz Photo by Glyn Emmerson Photo © 2001 NY Rock

This year's Elite Model Look was hosted by supermodel Maggie Rizer who did a fine job introducing the contestants and describing the crash course in "Modeling 101" that the girls went through. The full fashion immersion included runway lessons (Maggie admitted to falling over on her first "trip" down the catwalk), hair and makeup consultations, courtesy of power salon Bumble and Bumble, and meetings with the fashion media. In an industry where the models are normally best seen and not heard, Maggie was well spoken, relaxed and as charming to listen to as she was to look at. A model hostess, you might say, worthy of the contestants' admiration and aspirations.

Though all the girls looked great, despite many having little or no runway experience, it would be cliché to say there were no losers here, especially since many faced a long bus ride back to Boise, or parts even more remote, as their only consolation prize. It was a great time for the audience though, even if a personal favorite didn't make the final four (Natasha, you was robbed!). For the record, the winners who will go on to the International Finals in Nice, France this September are...

• Alyssa Hayes - 14 yrs. from Overland Park, KS
• Meredith Altom - 16 yrs. from Buras, LA
• Ashley Searcy - 16 yrs. from Nashville, TN
• Kansas Craft - 17 yrs. from Ponca City, OK

Though no one can say for certain who the next Cindy, Stephanie, or Frederique will be, one thing is sure: Rarely has the USS Intrepid been more "see worthy" than when in the hands of this evening's Elite crew.