Hot Strotterzz Modelling Agency placed first in the second annual So You Think You Can Model showdown Saturday night in a face-off with two newly formed groups of former members-turned-rivals.

The guys and girls of the island’s most prolific model group in recent years dazzled with their foil paper and bubble-wrap outfits that swapped out into contemporary Caribbean and casual wear, earning 300 points and a decisive win against rivals Evolution Models and All-Star Models in the hotly-awaited showdown organized by Laugh Out Loud (LOL) Productions.

This was the Hot Strotterzz’ second win at So You Think You Can Model, making them undefeated in local model displays and competitions since their formation at the start of 2007.

Hot Strotterzz Spokesperson Alida Brown was ecstatic with her group’s win, saying that the teens had been nervous ahead of their clash with groups formed from their former members. “This victory is a great victory for us; we worked hard,” said Brown over the phone Sunday. “The tension was high [and] I’m proud of all of them.”

Former Hot Strotterzz trainer and founding member Carlishia Philips is shrugging off her Evolution Models’ second place finish, saying that it was a good second showing for the breakaway group of some of the Hot Strotterzz top members. “It was fair,” she said about the judge’s decision to give them a total of 245 points – 56 points shy of a surpassing the winners. “First of all I don’t live to regret, I know what my girls are about and I know what I am about.”

The All-Star Models finished with 215 points at the end of the competition. All three groups will face-off again at this year’s Loud N’ Lovin’ It Teen Times’ Talent Showdown.

Since they did not initially plan to compete, Philips said Evolution had only four days to prepare. And they based their dark metal-themed performance, with an instrumental accompaniment of Linkin Park’s Numb at the start, on inspiration from local dancers, who have before used similar ideas. “We did not really form the group for competitions,” said Philips about Evolution, which debuted at the 2008 Youth Extravaganza during carnival. “Some of the girls were so excited we just decided to do it.” The girls wore matching black and red, heavy metal-inspired dresses and pantsuits.

Brown attributed the Hot Strotterzz’ unique design of foil paper neckties and other accessories and bubble-wrap bustiers and dresses on her time spent in Holland, going to school and absorbing fashion there. “In Holland, anything spoiled is a new style,” Brown said.

Her models had initially been a little skeptical about the costumes but they were able to pull off the designs at the start and then successfully switched to their other costumes. “In the beginning, they were asking ‘what can we do with foil paper and bubble wrap’,” Brown recalled.

Next for Evolution Models is a workshop in New York later this month [edit, in June] to learn about the skills and then preparation for the talent showdown. “We have a lot of time to prepare for this,” Philips said.

Brown said the Hot Strotterzz are sending members to compete at the Ms. Venus competition in Anguilla later this month [edit, in June] and then to a model competition in Tortola – their prize for winning the talent showdown in 2007.

She commended the other two groups for their performances, saying though that former members should always remember where they started. “We congratulate them on a job well done,” Brown said. “This should be a reminder that you should not forget where you came from.”

“Courtesy of The Daily Herald”

See more pictures at the “So You Think You Can Model? II” Gallery