May I Have Your Attention, Please?
Before signing with a prominent New York children's agency, the
talented thirteen-year old was just an every-day kid at Roosevelt
Field Mall. Even though Noni has “been interested in taking
pictures and modeling since I was seven,” she had to first get
through her skeptical mother before her career could ever
begin.
The story is all too familiar: a budding entertainer attends a
local modeling event and it sparks their interest. When Noni told
her mother...
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There Are No Limits
At age twelve, Jazmin Luperena of Brooklyn, New York already has
a mature understanding of her work as an actress. She loves
theater, and thinks it's “fun to be on-set, having cameras watching
you. I like being somebody else and exploring other people's
lives.” She was scouted in a local theme park by a Nijah / New
Faces Development scout, and landed a coveted role in a national
Bank of America commercial.
Jazmin can also be seen on “Models vs. Actors,” a...
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|  Glamour is Exciting
“You have to be as supportive of it as you can be, and you have
to surround yourself with people who have the same goals as you,”
said Betty Garcia, the mother of 16 year-old actor and model
Fabbielle Garcia. Betty was referring to the guidance of the Nijah
/ New Faces Development team. “Everyone knows that this a hard
industry, but the excitement of seeing my son getting requests and
walking the runway are enough to believe this is right for
him.”
Betty...
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Jack of All Trades
Andrew Cheng began showing an interest in modeling while
watching television at his home. His parents always felt he had
potential as a model, but wanted him to experience everything the
world had to offer. They enrolled him in dance lessons, swimming
lessons and karate. He also plays the piano and the violin. When he
was scouted by Nijah / New Faces Development at the Roosevelt Field
Mall, the opportunity for him to act on his interest in
entertaining came true.
Since...
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The Runds
Research Paid Off
“People always told us she should be in modeling. We wanted to
do something, but it just seemed so chaotic to try and do it
ourselves. Pursuing it without any help seemed so daunting,” said
Jordan Rund's mother. Jordan is a fearless five year old, and she
has always enjoyed performing. “My wife came home and said, 'we
were scouted by Nijah / New Faces Development,' and I went online
to research the company. We saw everything—good and bad. You never
know if things on...
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Kicking To the Top
“I was just walking in Roosevelt Field Mall,” said 15 year-old
William Benitez. “That's how this all began, and now I love it.”
William is referring to being scouted by Nijah / New Faces
Development, and the speed in which he began securing photo shoots.
His official career as a model began in April and since then, he
has booked clients that even seasoned models would admire, such as
editorials in Family Circle and an ad for Puma.
“I didn't...
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From Prankster to Actor
“Wesley always told jokes. He was always performing and saying
the funniest things. We always considered him for acting or
modeling,” said Wesley Wells' mother. “He always had an interest in
performing.” Wesley agrees. “I can remember being really young,
around four, joking around, doing shows for anyone who would watch
me.”
Wesley goes to a performing arts high school, so when he was
scouted by a Nijah / New Faces Development scout at the...
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Perseverance Pays Off
When Nijah / New Faces Development began getting Stephanie Perry
exposure from industry professionals, things really began to
materialize for her. “This is something we thought about doing for
a long time. Stephanie had been scouted before, but we were so
skeptical that we never paid any attention. When we came here, we
really thought this was the right place and time to go for it. Now,
I regret that we didn't work with Nijah / New Faces
Development...
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Having What it Takes
“I've always thought of this moment. I always thought 'I have
what it takes' to get here,” said newly signed Rachel Conefry, a
mixture of celebration and readiness after receiving her first
major modeling contract with VNY. Rachel will also be working with
Elite Miami in the Fall 2010. “That is what this business is about:
Having what it takes. Believing, and having confidence in,
yourself.”
Rachel had an interest in modeling since the age of...
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Both Sides of the Coin
MAGO has a different story than most of the talent and models of
Nijah / New Faces Development. He was an industry professional
first, but he is also an artist, fashion designer, and now,
commercial spokesperson. MAGO may have years of experience in the
entertainment industry, but he chose Nijah / New Faces Development
when he needed to step from behind-the-scenes.
MAGO, aka Enrique Martinez, began in the industry as a Nijah /
New Faces Development scout. He was a natural...
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Swept Up in a Whirlwind
Emma Ostilly's first modeling experience can be summed up in two
words: Hong Kong. She was chosen by Elite Paris to represent North
America in the “Elite Model Look World” and she toured China all
before she turned 16. It was thanks to Nijah / New Faces
Development's placement, that she signed with one of the most
prominent modeling agencies in the world, Wilhelmina NY and LA.
The Ostilly family are native South Africans, and Emma's cousins
are currently...
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Singer and Model-in-Training
To 11 year-old Long Island-native Emily Kosiczky, walking the
runway isn't just time away from school, but an opportunity she
takes seriously. “My favorite thing now is to walk the runway. I
really like trying on different clothes and making new friends, but
I haven't always been interested in fashion. Now I appreciate it. I
like working in fashion. I want to keep trying to get better at
it,” said Kosiczky.
Emily and her family were at...
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Improving Every Day
“When I began developing my runway presence, I felt changes
happen. I opened up a lot, and I felt myself becoming more
comfortable with the idea of me as a model. All of the changes came
from working with the Nijah / New Faces Development team.” Dana
DePalo was just a regular girl from Lindenhurst, Long Island, or so
she believed. Then she was scouted at Adventure Land by Nijah / New
Faces Development, and so began her transformation from a shy girl
into a...
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Having Fun Now!
Alyssa Healey is going to be ten in January, but even at a young
age, she has already shot an ad for Kleenex, which can be seen in
September's Better Homes & Gardens. “She was scouted
in the Staten Island Mall by Nijah / New Faces Development and we
considered getting her involved in modeling before the scout
inquired, but we weren't sure,” said Alyssa's mother. “Her father
and I were hesitant because we knew how competitive an
industry...
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From Athlete to Having an Agent
“Of course I thought about being a model, who hasn't?” Michael
Fulfree was just a talented athlete in Long Island when approached
by a Nijah / New Faces Development scout at the Roosevelt Field
mall. Only attending high school at the time, “football was my
passion.” Now he is an international model, having learned from and
walked for the late legend, Alexander McQueen. “Everyone has their
insecurities. It's natural, especially in this industry. I...
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From Runway Project to Project Runway
Zhanna Ved won Model of the Year in 2003 at a major modeling event,
went on to sign with two of the largest agencies in the world and
she is currently on this season of “Project Runway.” One would
never suspect that she spent over a year developing into the
beautiful and comfortable model she is today, but it is. She spent
that time with Nijah / New Faces Development, dedicated to
attaining her current stardom. “I just remember all of the... |
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A Star since 15!
Starting her career at fifteen, model, actress and 2009 twice IMTA
award winner Sibylla Deen’s profession has been consistently
flourishing for over the past ten years. Now working with her
current agency Innovative, Deen has been dubbed the face of Forever
New and just recently finished wrapping-up the movie Gin based in
Detriot. Although Deen’s life is quite hectic with a variety of
projects, she still makes...
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Shy
Girl to It Girl
The development pros at Nijah / New Faces Development transformed a
shy girl into a print and runway model when Frances Ruban sought
out help to develop into a full-fledged model. Frances was unsure
if she needed professional assistance, but now she realizes it was
the best decision her parents ever made. “I didn’t know how to
present myself to agents in a professional way. Nijah / New...
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Talent Transformed
Michael Fleischer was just another teen at his local mall when
Nijah / New Faces Development scouted him. Already interested in
entertainment but lacking professional experience, Fleischer
invested in the talent developmen
t process with Nijah / New Faces Development’s development and his
career as an actor and model truly began. After an initial
investment in a professional...
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Standing Out From the
Crowd
“Being chosen for the tour was easier because of the development
I received from Nijah / New Faces Development,” said singer, dancer
and actress Kyra Green about being selected from thousands of
talented kids to star in Nickelodeon's “Kidz Bop” summer tour.
Despite being discovered at age 10 by a Nijah/New Faces Development
scout in New York City, it...
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A Fiery Talent
Boasting the most callbacks of any female her age at the 2008
International Modeling and Talent Association's (IMTA) convention,
Tori Green is on fire.
As a triple-threat of singing, dancing and acting, Tori easily
achieved the feat of “Most Sought After Female.” Ask Green how and
the answer is simple: her talent was developed over time, primarily
through Nijah / New Faces Development. Green...
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