Orland Teen Has 'the Look,' Advances to Modeling Competition Finals

Orland Park resident Alexandra Grace Cangelosi strutted her way into the final round of this year’s Mario, Make Me a Model competition held at the Chicago Cultural Center on August 2. Cangelosi, one of five finalists, won the judges’ favor—including that of hair and day spa guru Mario Tricoci—over nearly 500 other aspiring models.

“I tried out for the contest last year and only made it as far as the first round. This year during the finals, my name was called second to last, and I thought ‘Oh my god, this is it’,” said Cangelosi.

The premise of the contest finds five models to mold, instruct and make-over into supermodel material. Each finalist begins a two-month program including hair makeover from Mario Tricoci Hair Salons & Day Spas, runway instruction by Factor Women, and private personal training with Fitness Formula Club. They will also get on-camera practice shooting a television commercial for CBS2 Chicago and take part in a fashion layout for Michigan Avenue magazine.

Each finalist received a FLIP camera to document their experiences, a video collage of which will be shown during the final runway show at Chicago’s Millennium Park on October 19.

The winner of the competition takes home various prizes including an all-expense paid vacation to Cancun, Mexico and consideration for a modeling contract with Factor Women.

While tempting, Cangelosi plans to play it smart.

A 2011 graduate of Carl Sandburg High School, Cangelosi will begin her studies this fall at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago as a merit scholar majoring in Fashion Design.

“I would love to have a career in modeling, but I know the industry is unpredictable, so it’s good to have a degree in Fashion Design as a backup,” she said.

Interested in what it takes to be a model? Follow Cangelosi’s journey, and while you’re at it, text in your fan vote for this pretty and smart Orland Parker.