Video: Are You The Next Essence 'It' Girl?

Are you the next It Girl? Think you have what it takes to be a model? Well, ESSENCE has launched its "It Girl" model search in partnership with Elite Model Management and we're conducting a nationwide search looking for the next African-American "It" model. The winner--to be announced in May--will be featured in the September 2010 Fall Fashion issue of ESSENCE magazine and will receive a one-year contract with Elite Model Management! Live castings will be conducted in Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York and photos will be accepted online here. An expert panel of judges comprised of ESSENCE editors, Elite managers and fashion industry VIPs will attend each of the open castings to evaluate the entrants and 5 finalists will be flown to New York City for a special modeling boot camp, which will be documented for the "Making of an It Girl" web series on ESSENCE.com. The ESSENCE.com audience will cast their votes to help select the grand prize winner from the 5 finalists. Click here for Submission Guidelines and online Application. Read more:

• New Fashion Week Catwalk Queens
• The History Of Black Models