RIT students test their modeling skills

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Courtney DiStasio

Aksa Asgher

At the beginning of the semester, dozens of hopeful students waited in line for their shot at winning Tiger’s Next Top Model, a modeling competition that has been held on campus since 2007.

Eight male and eight female students made the cut to compete in Cycle 10 this fall. Each week, these contestants participated in a themed photo shoot, with themes ranging from “Up Close & Personal” to “Indiana Jones” and “Gatsby.” On Friday, the top male and female models will be named.

“I think it is so great that we have something like this on campus,” says Steffi Stephan, a third-year interpreting major and this year’s producer. “It helps students think more creatively.”

Tiger’s Next Top Model loosely mirrors the popular television show America’s Next Top Model. Eliminations are held each week, where the three student judges choose one male and one female to exit the competition.

Photos are taken by RIT photography students, helping them to build their portfolios. The most recent photo shoot was candy themed. Contestants were responsible for coming up with their own concept, props and poses. Kyle Brossoit, a fifth-year chemical engineering student, won best photo for his chocolate-themed shot taken by RIT student Courtney DiStasio.

“The candy-themed shoot was my favorite,” says Brossoit. “I got to experiment with having chocolate spread all over me so it was definitely interesting. I love seeing how the photos turn out.”

After the final four contestants have been determined, a runway show is held to determine the winners. The finalists for Cycle 10 are Hailey Koth, Aksa Asgher, Brossoit and Dan Vasliew.

“I am really proud of this year’s final four,” says Stephan. “I think they have grown so much. They’ve become so much more creative each week and I am excited to see what they do for the runway show.”

The runway show will be held 4–6 p.m. Friday in the CSD Student Development Center, where a male and a female winner will be chosen.

Tiger’s Next Top Model is part is of Tiger Media, a student service organization on campus in which deaf and hard-of-hearing students create videos and pictures to distribute throughout various channels on campus.

For more information or to view photos from the competition, go to the Tiger's Next Top Model facebook page.

Hailey Koth Courtney DiStasio

Kyle Brossoit Courtney DiStasio

Dan Vasliew Courtney DiStasio