Where Are They Now? - Star Kids 2009 Winner Gianna

Every year we have dozens and dozens of beautiful and handsome entrants to the Star Kids Modeling Contest. Thankfully for us, Images Model and Talent Agency takes on themselves the hard job of selecting the winners. The overall winner of the Star Kids contest is then offered a full scholarship to Images children's classes to get some professional modeling and acting experience. Some of the winners from years past have gone on to pursue further performance venues. We caught up Alena, mom to 2009 winner Gianna, and she gave us a wonderful update on how her little winner was doing. So, here's what Gianna has been up to and how winner the Star Kids Contest affected some of those decisions!

The Star Kids Modeling Competition was a wonderful experience for Gianna. Of course, her favorite part of the entire experience was the photo shoot in the Portrait Shoppe Studio. From the dressing room, the costumes, and the personal attention provided by the staff, Gianna felt like a star even before being selected as the winner. The pictures turned out so beautifully, we had a hard time choosing a favorite to enter in the contest!

When we entered the Star Kids contest, our main priority was to great some great photographs capturing this magical youthful time in our child's life. However, winning the contest greatly improved Gianna's confidence. She went on to win Little Miss Madison County and represent the county at the state fair pageant. She also really enjoyed the classes at Images, especially memorizing scripts and practicing on the runway. Since completing the course at Images, Gianna has participated in several local fashion shows including pageant store Jack N Jill, and is also featured in the current ad campaign for Posh Tots Boutique in Richmond. 

Whatever Gianna does, she likes to do it with an abundance of style and fanfare. Gianna is currently training with the Level 3 team at Excel gymnastics in Richmond, where her coach often refers to her as Little Miss America. She also just completed her 4th recital with Bluegrass Dance Center, where she studies tap, ballet, creative dance, and hip-hop. Next week, Gianna will graduate from Kindergarten and looks forward to a summer vacation filled with swimming, reading, play and (probably) mischief. While acting and modeling were never our original plan, Gianna will  also attend theater camp to decide if she would like to further pursue acting.

Thanks so much Alena for providing us this awesome "snapshot" of Gianna's life and success! We wish her well.

Interested in getting your own child in to become a Star Kids winner? Make sure you check out the details of Star Kids in 2010 (below), then call the Portrait Shoppe at 859.277.6671 to make an appointment or even just ask questions, or go to the web and contact us that way.

We'll see you and your own Star Kid soon!

The NEW Star Kids!

Portrait Shoppe is proud to produce STAR KIDS: Lexington's Annual Children's Modeling Competition.

For 7 years the Portrait Shoppe has been running the Star Kids Modeling Competition, an informal portrait competition that benefits UK Children's Hospital. It is judged by the wonderfully talented people at Images Model Agency. It has always been a success, and this year is going to be no different! And for the first time in7 years, we've made some positive changes to the contest! Here's what you need to know about getting your child into Star Kids.
When is Star Kids? Star Kids begins May 1st and run through most of the summer. Your portrait session needs to be done within this time period. *Suggestion: get it done early, because the end of July is crazy busy with people trying to cram it in!*

What are the age restriction? Anybody ages 0-12 is eligible to enter (that's your age as of May 1st, the beginning of the contest).

How is Star Kids judged? Star Kids is broken down into Age, Gender, and Style Categories, so there are lots of opportunities for your child to win! The age categories are: 0-11 months, 12-23 months, 2-3 years, 4-5 years, 6-7 years, 8-10 years, 11-12 years. Within each age category there are 2 boy winners and 2 girl winners: one Reality winner, and one Imagination winner. There are also two overall winners: one from 0-3 years, one from 4-12 years. All the judging is done by Images Model and Talent Agency - we (the photographers) get too attached to your children to make fair, objective judgments!)

How do I enter? All entries will be chosen from photographs taken at the Portrait Shoppe during the eligible months. All you have to do is make an appointment at the Portrait Shoppe. You may call the studio (859.277.6671) or you can make an appointment online (click here). But don't wait too long to make your appointment, or you might not be able to get a spot!

Does it cost anything to enter? The entrance fee to the Star Kids Modeling Competition is $99. This covers your session fee, your registration for Star Kids, the donation for UK Children's Hospital, and $50 towards whatever order you place.

What about scenes and outfits? For Star Kids, there are NO RESTRICTIONS! You can wear anything and use any of our scenes – but we have to have individual images, group shots won’t work. You may submit multiple children per family and/or a child into more than one category, but there will be an individual entrance fee for each.

How do you choose which image to use? We don’t – YOU do. We’ll help you of course, and give you suggestions, but the final decision is yours as to which image you want to submit. (See our post about How To Win A Modeling Competition for some suggestions on this.)

What does my child get if he/she wins? Every participant, winner or not, will get a 4×6 of the image they choose and a goodie bag full of prizes, coupons, and discounts at all participating businesses in Lexington. Typically those gift bags are worth somewhere in the vicinity of $100. The category winners will get more substantial prizes: gift certificates, dinners, etc. And the overall winners? Free registration and classes at Images Modeling Agency!

Why do Star Kids at all? Before it is anything else, Star Kids is a benefit for the UK Children's Hospital. The Star Kids Modeling Contest has been donating to them for 7 years, and has raised thousands of dollars! This year we're making an extra effort: we are doubling our donation from all previous years! In addition to that we are also donating a percent of the total sales from the contest to the UK Children's Hospital. So the 2010 donation is expected to be significantly larger than any we've made yet. But also (and not unimportantly), Star Kids is FUN! It's fun for you, for your child, for us...it's just a good time all around. So come and be part of the fun! We look forward to seeing your Star Kid and helping them to shine!

Coming Soon: Star Kids Modeling Contest 2010!

Star Kids Modeling Contest Underway!

Beautiful, aren't they? Well, those are all the winners from last years Star Kids Modeling Contest!

Every summer the Portrait Shoppe puts on our very own modeling contest: Star Kids! This is the 6th Annual Star Kids Modeling Competition, and it's going to be awesome! Once again Images modeling agency is going to be doing our judging, and as always a portion of the proceeds from Star Kids every year goes to benefit UK Children's Hospital. Here are the basics you need to know to get you child or children entered into Star Kids:

Dates: May 1st -August 1st - Your portrait session needs to be done within this time period. *Suggestion: get it done early, because the end of July is crazy busy with people trying to cram it in!*)

Ages: 0-12 - We've added an 11 and 12 year old category this year, so you can even bring your older children in!

Categories: 0-11 mo., 12-23 mo., 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-1, 11-12. Within each age category there are 2 boy winners and 2 girl winners: one reality (traditional) winner, and one imagination (fantasy) winner.

2 Overall winners: one 0verall winner from ages 0-3, and one overall winner from ages 4-12.

How do I get started?  Just make an appointment at the Portrait Shoppe - call 859-277-6671 or schedule an appointment online.

What about scenes and outfits?  For Star Kids, there are NO RESTRICTIONS! You can wear anything and use any of our scenes - but we have to have individual images, group shots won't work.

How do you choose which image to use? We don't - YOU do. We'll help you of course, and give you suggestions, but the final decision is yours as to which image you want to submit.

What does my child get if he/she wins?  Every participant, winner or not, will get a 4x6 of the image they choose and a goodie bag full of prizes, coupons, and discounts at all participating businesses in Lexington. Typically those gift bags are worth somewhere in the vicinity of $100. The category winners will get more substantial prizes: gift certificates, dinners, etc. And the overall winners? Free registration and classes at Images Modeling Agency!

All you have to do to get started is call up the Portrait Shoppe and schedule a photo session before the end of Saturday, August 1st. 859-277-6671. But don't wait too long, or you might not be able to get a spot.

We look forward to meeting your Star Kids, and seeing them shine right here!