Irvine High Model Gets an Eyeful With Her Taste of the Big Apple

Six aspiring models from Costa Mesa’s Marian’s agency got a shot at hitting it big when Next, one of New York’s hottest agencies, sent a scout on a nationwide tour in search of the next new faces.

Next represents such supermodels as Yasmeen, Beverly Peele and Roberta Chirco. Marian’s, the fashion division of the Berzon talent agency, has sent its clients all over the world to work since starting up a year ago.

So what does a model scout look for? “It’s more attitude than beauty,” said Next’s Christieve Carothers.

“But don’t confuse arrogance with confidence,” she warned.

Carothers interviewed each young woman, asking about goals beyond modeling (i.e. college?) and would they be willing to travel to New York or Europe (who wouldn’t?).

After a weeklong search, Carothers decided on five--including Jennifer Kettner, who will enter Irvine High this fall as a junior. The other four hailed from North Carolina, Texas and Georgia.

After an initial visit to New York during spring break, Kettner, 15, returned for 2 1/2 weeks last month. She went on dozens of “go-sees” a day: photo tests and interviews with photographers and major magazines.

What of her adventures in the Big Apple?

“I’ve seen a lot more of the world,” she said last weekend. But it was not all glamorous. “There are so many homeless people. Someday I’d like to help them.”

For now, Kettner, who said talking about her possible career as a model is “embarrassing,” will focus both her social and professional concerns locally.

During the school year, she plans to work as a model in Los Angeles. The Next agency will take her back to New York for spring break and send her off to Germany next summer.