The famed Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City welcomed a slice of Orangeburg when nine ladies from Betty Lane School of Charm and Modeling gave talent agents a glimpse of what they had to offer at the 2008 Modeling Association of America International Convention, held March 22-27.

Betty Lane School of Charm and Modeling, operated by former Miss USA Betty Lane Gramling of Orangeburg, takes individuals to the MAAI each year to showcase their skills and compete live in front of agents from around the globe looking for new faces for runway, print, film and television.

Gramling just completed her third term as president of the MAAI, where she also serves on the advisory council. She has been with the association for 41 years of its nearly 49-year existence.

Each year, she accompanies the "best of the best" from her modeling and acting talent pool to the Big Apple, allowing them the opportunity of a lifetime to be seen in one location by fashion and film leaders from the United States and abroad.

This year, with 14 categories ranging from runway and swimsuit to cold reading, monologue and voice-over narration, Betty Lane's nine representatives dazzled agents, casting directors, talent scouts and other industry professionals to the tune of 84 callbacks.

"This group of people was outstanding," Gramling said. "There were hundreds who didn't get callbacks. I think they gave them all to mine."

The girls were judged on performance and facial expression, Gramling said. "When you win something in New York City, this is big time," she said.

Betty Lane models and their awards at the March convention include: Erin Thomas -- swimsuit; Melia Williams -- kids quiz, runway, monologue, swimsuit and photography; Summer Yoakum -- overall child winner 2008 (she placed in runway, photography and TV commercial), photography, monologue and legs; Genie Cleveland -- soap commercial, monologue and makeup; Pauline Chrysostom -- photography and legs; Vanesha Winningham -- runway and photography; Payton Connor -- voiceover narration, photography and monologue; Amanda Illian -- runway, swimsuit, photography and legs; and Candace Taylor -- runway.

"Summer Yoakum has agents after her big time," Gramling said. "She's 12, but she's got personality and talent."

When asked what the goal of her modeling career is, Yoakum said she wants to move to New York for the summer and sign with Click Modeling Agency.

Yoakum's mother, Susan, said Betty Lane's leadership was key in the success of the girls in New York. She worked with them a great deal prior to the trip, and all the girls had to learn a lot of material, she said.

Sixteen-year-old Genie Cleveland of Branchville echoed Susan Yoakum in saying, "I learned everything I needed to know from her (Betty Lane)." Cleveland said she wants to be a household name and recognized as a top model all over the world.

Amanda Illian, 21, of Greenville, thanked Betty Lane for taking her to New York for a trip she'll never forget.

"I'm so happy that I went," Illian said. "It helped my confidence level and I made a lot of connections in the modeling industry."

Illian started modeling classes when she was 14 years old. At 18, she went to a casting call for the popular reality TV show, "America's Next Top Model." She received a call back and traveled to Miami, only to be told by producers she looked too young. Illian said she's thought about auditioning again but is still deciding if that's the route she wants to take.

When asked what advice she would offer to those aspiring to be in the entertainment industry, Illian said, "Never give up. It doesn't matter if they say you're too short or overweight; there's always someone out there that's looking for what you've got to offer."

Elloree native Vanesha Winningham doesn't plan on giving up her dream of ripping the runway as a plus-size high-fashion model anytime soon.

"I know there aren't a lot of girls in plus size," Winningham said. "A lot of people aspire to be models and think they should be skinny, but people come in all shapes and sizes."

The 15-year-old Lake Marion High School sophomore said agents constantly tell her that her look is commercial, but she's determined to be a high-fashion model.

She said her parents, William and Ophelia Ketcherside, have played a major role in her development as a model.

Gramling said Winningham was very successful in New York, and there are many opportunities for plus-size models of all ages. She said she's currently looking for more to train.

Agents in New York are looking for a variety of attributes, Gramling said, like clean skin, good hair and rested eyes.

"They can tell you if you stayed out too late the night before," she said.

They also prefer models that are at least 5 feet, 8 inches tall, but there are exceptions to that rule, Gramling said, citing the fact that there are successful petite models.

Agents are looking for the overall "healthy girl," she said, adding that the days of the extremely thin model are slowly fading.

Gramling said all of her protégés are beautiful and talented. She admits that she has a eye for spotting a potential star, and she had the girls pretty pegged this year.

"When a girl walks in and says she really wants to do this and not for the riches and fame, she has a certain sparkle in her eye and in the way she walks," Gramling said.

She said if a child wants to start a modeling career, they should begin early with the basics, such as runway technique, skin care, TV commercials and stage presence.

"These are all of the things that you need for school, social situations, education and life," she said. "A good modeling class should have those things."

Gramling added that youngsters interested in acting should participate in plays and drama at their school and join organizations such as the Orangeburg Part-Time Players to gain stage experience.

The MAAI Convention, in addition to allowing talent a chance for discovery, awards scholarships to the New York School for Film and Television. Educational seminars are also offered during the event. While at the convention, Betty Lane's students attended seminars on commercial auditions, market readiness, acting for the camera and runway modeling.

International runway star Shailah Edmonds conducted the runway seminar. Edmonds allowed girls from each modeling school to show their runway walk and criticized girls from every school except Betty Lane's, several of the attendees said.

"I thought, 'We must have been really good,'" Cleveland said.

For more information or to register for summer classes at Betty Lane School of Charm and Modeling, call 803-536-1648.

T&D Features Writer Candace Newson can be reached by e-mail at cnewson@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5540. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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