Mario Tricoci Holds Open Modeling Call

More than 100 people attended the Mario, Make Me a Model open call Tuesday at in Skokie.

The fourth annual completion also featured auditions at salons in Chicago, Oak Brook and Orland Park, with more than 500 people trying out over the course of two days. The top 39 contestants will be announced next week, with the semifinalists advancing to another round of judging.

The top five models chosen from that round will receive a makeover from Mario Tricoci, runway instruction from Factor Women and personal training at Fitness Formula Clubs to prepare them for a runway show, photo shoot and appearance in a 15-second commercial that will air on CBS2 Chicago.

This is the second year that the contest was held at Mario Tricoci’s shop at Westfield Old Orchard Mall in Skokie. Contestants lined up outside the salon to fill out paperwork, and another line snaked up the stairs to the salon’s upper level where contestants were measured and interviewed by a panel of five judges.

Marketing specialist Natalie Williams said the second level was one of the main reasons the Skokie location was chosen.

“It’s tricky getting 100 people in and not interrupting our regular guests,” she said.

Each judge gave contestants a score of either 1, 5 or 10, rating them on their general fitness, hair texture, willingness to change their hair and potential as a model and photograph subject.

“We’re going to have a lot of 10s out of this group,” said Megan Bueschel, chief marketing officer for Mario Tricoci Hair Salons & Day Spa.

Kasia Koniar, marketing director for Factor Women modeling agency, said she assessed candidates to make sure they met her measurement standards, with women being at least 5-foot-6 and sizes 0-6. She also rated them based on beauty, though she said personality also went a long way in the evaluation process.

“There’s a certain element that’s really hard to describe but it’s easy to see once you’ve been seeing it,” she said. “Your eye kind of gets trained over time.”

The competition was open to men and women ages 16 and older. No prior experience was needed.

Gurnee resident Samantha Willems said she came to the audition because she fell in love with modeling when she tried it at the John Casablancas Modeling and Acting Career Center.

“I love modeling and I just really want to be a part of this,” she said. “I think it’s going to be really exciting and fun. I love being on camera, walking down the runway and smiling.”

Eric Himmel of Flossmoor was very confident after his audition Tuesday.

“I have what it takes to have Mario make me a model,” he said gesturing to his face. “I think this is a good quality for a model.”

This was the first modeling audition for Morton Grove resident Bianca Marinca, but she said she found the process very easy.

“I wanted to do something different and get out of my comfort zone,” she said. “I always had this in the back of my mind but I didn’t have the guts to try it. There are always reasons why, but I don’t want to regret it later.”