Essence model search winner: presenting Elisa Lawrence from a bouquet of thousands, this singular beauty stood out

Okay, Tyra, now we get it: Picking one beauty among thousands sure isn't easy. The panel of judges for the ESSENCE Model Search discovered that fact. Challenged with the task of selecting one winner out of a multitude of gorgeous sisters, the judges took weeks to go through all the entries that poured in from around the country, Canada and the Caribbean. And remember, the ESSENCE Model Search is not your typical beauty contest: We love us tall and petite, young and grown, lean and lush, cream, caramel and chocolate, so it was especially difficult to select our three finalists. But the judges--ESSENCE'S own beauty director and cover editor, Mikki Taylor; celebrity hairstylist and author Dickey; makeup artist to the stab Monifa Mortis; and internationally acclaimed fashion photographer Haitem--rose to the occasion. They picked Andean Nicole Banks from California, Felicia Nicole Furman from Connecticut and Elisa Lawrence of North Carolina. As you can see, all three are stunning. But competitions dictate that there can be only one winner. And it's our joy to announce that the 2005 ESSENCE Model Search winner is Elisa Lawrence.

Elisa's sense of style wowed the judges--and she could sure 'nuff strut. The versatile 22-year-old recent Hampton University student says she can rock her hair in an Afro, twists or a weave to her waist. She describes her personal style as eclectic: "I'll wear a vintage T-shirt one day and a gown the next. I really love gowns." Our brown beauty dreams of working in the fashion industry and hopes one day to own a modeling agency for African-American models. Looks like she's walking down the right runway toward her goal.

Winner

Elisa, looking pretty even before her makeover

Our Runners-up

Felicia Nicole Furman, a 29-year-old talent manager, says, "ESSENCE standards are so high, just being here is an accomplishment." We're honored to have you, sis.

Andean Nicole Banks, a 24-year-old biochemistry major, says she believes, "There's a spotlight for everyone, but it's up to you to keep your spot in the light."

What Elisa won:

* Round-trip tickets to New York City.

* A three-day, two-night hotel stay.

* A full-blown ESSENCE fashion photo shoot.

* A modeling assignment for ESSENCE'S October fashion pages (see her next month).

* A day of beauty at the Avon Salon & Spa.

* A beauty basket from Carol's Daughter.

* A beauty basket from Origins.

* An assortment of ESSENCE books.

* signed copy of Hair Rules/ (Villard Books) by Dickey.

COPYRIGHT 2005 Essence Communications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group