Behind the Scenes of Teen Modeling

ByABC News via logo
January 20, 2007, 8:08 AM

Jan. 20, 2007 — -- The teen modeling world can be a seductive business, especially for young girls with big dreams. But these days they're starting early, with some girls being recruited long before they're even out of high school.

Under the bright lights on the catwalk, they could be supermodels at the hottest fashion shows in Paris -- but in real life, they're just teenagers.

Yet, their lives could be changed in an instant if someone spotted something special about their look.

Anya Chekaukas was only 15 years old when she was approached by a talent scout who noticed her as she walked out of the local diner.

"He said, 'You have a very unique look. You are beautiful and come model for us,'" she said.

Chekaukas' mother, Lise Newman, agreed to go with her daughter to check out what the scout had to say.

"She called and she said, 'At lunch time I got this card from a scout. Can I please, please, please go?'" Newman said. "And so I said, 'Okay, we'll see what it's about.'"

To Chekaukas and her mom Newman, it was a dream come true.

"You just read about that happening to people, but I never thought that's how it would have happened to me," Chekaukas said.

In a matter of weeks, she went from a straight-A high school student and volleyball player to a potential supermodel heading to photo shoots in Chicago.

Modeling was something she had dreamed of doing since she was 11 years old and practicing her catwalk moves in front of her family.

Then one day, she got the call of a lifetime. Newman answered the phone.

"[My mom] said, 'You have been chosen to represent the United States in the supermodel international search,'" Chekaukas said. "I said, 'Oh my god. No way.'"

Katie Ford is the CEO of the legendary Ford Modeling Agency, which scours the world for new supermodels. The best girls are 5-foot-8-inches to 5-foot-11-inches, a size four and, of course, beautiful. Ford said Chekaukas fit the bill.