New Haven Independent

“I got an email at work at the medical school, I told my cousin about it, and we all came down,” said Toreez (picturedwith Nayasia Thomas, Anayah Epps, Adrianna Torrez and Lissette Torrez).

Saturday’s competition, sponsored by the Chapel and Broadway Merchants Associations in cooperation with Yale University Properties, drew what panel judge Brittany Lipsett said was a much larger than expected pool of applicants, from young children like Anayah and Adrianna to college students and beyond. They competed for spots in the next “Couture New Haven” advertising campaign.

“We’ll definitely have over a hundred applicants by the time this is over,” Lipsett said, “and the age range has been from 3 to 64.”

Fellow judge Lorri O’Connell said the unexpected turnout would make choosing a winner all the more difficult.

“I have way too many favorites right now,” she said. “It’s going to be really hard.”

Applicants lined up at Wishlist on York Street from noon to 2 p.m. and then queued up for the judging panel and a head shot at 278 Park St. They were judged on “poise, personality and healthy appearance.” Five winners will appear in a CT Style fashion show Friday April 3 on WTNH. The grand prize winner will be highlighted on the fashion show and receive a $100 Wishlist gift certificate and a professional photo shoot session.