Meet the Winner of ELLEgirl's Annual Nationwide Model Search!

Do you dream of being a model-actress? 16-year-old Brittany Martinez does too! And now, thanks to winning ELLEgirl’s Annual Nationwide Model Search, her dream has become a reality. While on vacation in Dallas, Texas with her mom, Brittany got a call with the good news and, soon after, she was on a plane to NYC! Once arriving in Manhattan, the Eagle, Idaho native was whisked away to a luxury downtown apartment where a gift basket with goodies awaited her. But the best part was yet to come—as part of Brittany’s prize package, she scored an acting spot on CBS’ award-winning daytime drama Guiding Light (right before its bittersweet end). Even better: After her TV debut, Brittany got to do a glamorous photo shoot with GL cutie Zack Conroy! The photos were snapped by celebrity photographer Francis Hills, who has also worked with Megan Fox and Kimora Lee Simmons.

Even though Brittany’s fabulous time in New York was brief, her moment in the spotlight didn’t end there. Not only is she kicking back at home with a free, year’s supply of SoBe water but—with the help of ELLEgirl—she now has good representation both locally and in NYC. Oh, and did we mention that her new acting coach is none other than Cody Linley’s mom?!? (Hmm. Wonder whether Brittany’s ever met the Hannah Montana hottie…)

Stay tuned for news on how you can be the next ELLEgirl Model Search winner! Until then, check out these pics of Brittany, Zack, and EG Model Search runner-up Ally Taylor.

—Emily Hebert

Brittany strikes a pose. Photo: Francis Hills

Brittany snuggles up to Zack. Photo: Francis Hills

Group photo! Brittany and Ally with Zack. Photo: Francis Hills

Comments

[Calie]

My name is Calie...I've always been inspired by the models healthy lifestyle not only that but the way they project there selfs to others...im 13 years old and I weigh 110 pounds and I'm 5'9!

[Tesha]

i want to be a model/actress so very bad im 13 and im lil heavy but working on shedding the weight. i wish that i can soon be like Brittany and get my chance at modeling.

[Britteny secrest]

Iam not a skinny girl, but iam 16 and iam going to follow my dreams to Congrats!!!! I now know you dont have to be a size 2 to win. This make me want it more than ever i have been 135lbs for a long time , now that iam 5'8" i got down to 125 so there is hope for me. Thanks to you i know i can do it. My name is Brittteny also mybe a sign lol. I will never give up as if you never heard that one. Iam out going and love the camera and it loves me so thanks to you i going for it.

[chasity]

good job brittany i am 13 and 5"8 or 5"9 i weight 145 and i truley want to become a model and stuff just a few mins ago i was at the gym with my mom workin on my figure and stuff i want to better my education and stuff and create a career of me becomeing a model also about an hour ago i was lookin at the victoria's 2005 and 2006 fashion show and the next top models and i really want to be in the models shoes wish me luck and brittnay congrats and thx for exspireing me to acheve my dreams just like ou did:)

[chasity]

good job brittany i am 13 and 5"8 or 5"9 i weight 145 and i truley want to become a model and stuff just a few mins ago i was at the gym with my mom workin on my figure and stuff i want to better my education and stuff and create a career of me becomeing a model also about an hour ago i was lookin at the victoria's 2005 and 2006 fashion show and the next top models and i really want to be in the models shoes wish me luck and brittnay congrats and thx for exspireing me to acheve my dreams just like ou did:)

[chasity]

good job brittany i am 13 and 5"8 or 5"9 i weight 145 and i truley want to become a model and stuff just a few mins ago i was at the gym with my mom workin on my figure and stuff i want to better my education and stuff and create a career of me becomeing a model also about an hour ago i was lookin at the victoria's 2005 and 2006 fashion show and the next top models and i really want to be in the models shoes wish me luck and brittnay congrats and thx for exspireing me to acheve my dreams just like ou did:)

[cristal]

yeah people most think she is ugly or thatshe is not that prety, but who cares if she is not. To me she is prety and deserved to win ....i really want to be a model , i love dressing up and wear high hills. My dream is to become a model one day and be in one of those famouse places like New York city or LA, or Las Vegas posing fo a magazine or acting fo a music video. i would love doing that, and i will die but not before i make ma dream come true!!
congratulations to you Brittany Martinez.
one thing i noticed that her last name sounds latino (i wonder is she is mixed)

[Allie]

i relle like her shes super pretty, i am 14 and i want to be a model more than anything i wanna use it to help support for my family later in life and i also love taking pictures i love dressing up and having fun with my camera its a thrill. im trying out for the 2010 elle girl model search and i really hope i win it would be a dream come true.

[Katty]

whoever says she is ugly is way to self obsorber she is beautilful to the MAx!!! You try being the EllEgirl of the year lots of pressure....quite hating i dont see you up there! congratz brittany :)

[samantha]

modeling is a great way to show people who you are.i would love to model and act one day,its my dream and to have it come true would be amazing.im 16 and modeling and acting is what i want to do in life.joining the model search can give me a chance to do that,and hopefully it does.and these pictures are gorgeous,seeing these pictures makes me want to model even more.

[AUBREY! :D]

AWESOME CONGRATZ!!!
Im 13 and always wanted to be a model. I am now taller than my mom and she is about 5'4 or 5'5 and I DO NO WEAR MAKEUP WHAT SO EVER and I have NO ACNE OR PIMPLES and have a little wrinkles and excema but nobody is perfect or has everything. I lost weight than slowly gained it back and loosing it agian (I weigh 132.0lbs)AND CAN EASILY LOOSE IT! :) I LOVE taking pics of my self with a camera or phone and LOVE ppl taking pics of me to. I was thinking about magazine or runway like type of modleing but love taking pics lol! I do not live in a big city or state and am a very kind sweet and loving person funny and talented person with a georgous smile! And the important thihng is that <3I LOVE JUSTIN BIEBER <3 haha....
I AM NOT RICH OR POOR I have a great sense and taste in style and when I grow up I wanna be in the Victoria's Secret fashion show! :)

[Andrea]

You're beautiful.

[imani]

wait to show off congrats!!

[carlissa]

you did really good i will try really hard. to come up with my own style!

[Kit Evans]

I can't afford to put any of my pics up. I wish i had money like u....i know im pretty and very capapble of being where u're @ and futher. I wish you the best.

[sami]

i hope my dream as big as yours and one just like yours comes true for me!

[mckenzie barger]

Your are beautiful.I want to say alot of nice things and i will you are pretty,cute,and CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Miahnna]

Congradulations BIG TIME <3

[shaneek james]

congrats girl!

[Sadalie]

This girl is GORGEOUS.Anyone that said otherwise is just hatin'. That's such a shame! Give this girl her credit. She is FABULOUS!! Great hair, smile, face and body size. She's not TOO skinny or too big. She looks HEALTHY and that's what all women should strive for. A healthy size 20 is more appealing than an unhealthy looking size 2 woman any day. We all come in different shapes and sizes. The beauty of all should be celebrated, not criticized! Do your thang, Britany!! Confident woman will appreciate your beauty; insecure ones will find something wrong with EVERYONE!

[amy]

First, congratulations to you Brittany! You are a gorgeous young woman. Wishes for success in your future. As far as Elle picking a "real" girl- some "real" girls are actually also gorgeous...go figure!! The picking a girl with more meat on her bones comment-what is wrong with you? Not every girl (person) is built with "meat" on their bones and it is offensive to those of us who are naturally thin to constantly hear these comments

[student jobs]

Congratulations to her! But not all girls can realize their dreams like her.

[K J]

Brittany, Congratulations to you on becoming the Elle Girl! You've always been beautiful, both inside and out. We're all happy for you! From Your "Uncle" Mark's Mom

[mattress]

It's hard to imagine that she is only 16.

[Breonna Kelley]

watch out...im the next elle girl..