I Wannabe a Supermodel ; It's the Latest Reality Tv Show Promising Instant Fame. But for the Thousands of Hopeful Young Women Clamouring to Take Part, the Price of Failure Can Be Devastatingly High...

Summary

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NINE in the morning in an East London churchyard and a group of visibly upset young women are struggling to hold back their tears. The adjacent street is similarly peppered with tearful girls, sheltering in doorways from the persistent drizzle and gazing wistfully back towards the church.

A few passers-by stare in bemusement. Such a display of grief outside this church would normally denote a funeral, but given the early hour and the array of brightly- coloured miniskirts, low-cut tops, high heels and lipstick - not to mention the presence of two burly security guards - it seems safe to conclude that there is a rather more unorthodox explanation. In fact, it's the London leg of the auditions for Five's latest reality TV series, Make Me A Supermodel, and today the converted crypt of this historic 11th- century church is playing host to more than 1,000 hopeful young women, some of whom have been queuing since 5am.

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Extract

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I Wannabe a Supermodel ; It's the Latest Reality Tv Show Promising Instant Fame. But for the Thousands of Hopeful Young Women Clamouring to Take Part, the Price of Failure Can Be Devastatingly High...

The girls are aged between 17 and 25 and range from single mothers with babies in pushchairs to masters degree students. Each has been lured by the temptation of a TV show that promises to offer 'the express route to a career as the next supermodel', as well as the chance to meet model Rachel Hunter, who will sit on the final judging panel.

Competition is fierce, with auditions being held nationwide and just 40 places in the next round. From these, 12 girls will be selected to live together in a house in London and have their every move filmed as they learn the ropes o...

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