Catfights, drama and high fashion are in store for the new season of SiTV’s “Model Latina” set in New York City, which premiered August 2.
After a nationwide search, 15 aspiring models flew to New York City to compete for one of the 12 spots in a Manhattan loft and a chance to win a modeling contract with Q Management in the shows third season premiere.
“Season three is going to blow it out of the water,” said contestant Sally Ferreira, 25, who was born and raised in East Elmhurst.
Ferreira, who is Dominican, said she was inspired to do modeling from her cousin who works at a radio station. Ferreira is one of the two Queens girls competing in this year’s modeling competition.
“The contestants we got from Queens were all really strong and beautiful,” said Maria Perez-Brown head of programming and executive producer of Model Latina.
The show follows the formula of America’s Next Top Model, contestants live in an apartment together and compete in weekly challenges and photo shoots, except Model Latina focuses on aspiring Latina models.
Before modeling Ferreira was a professional dancer and choreographer for five years. She has appeared in 22 music videos and is currently trying to become an actress. She just finished filming her fourth movie.
“I believe you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket,” Ferraira said.
Fellow Queens contestant, Elora Perez from Rosedale, is a newcomer to the modeling world and said she heard when they held auditions in Queens Center Mall and decided to audition with no previous experience.
“I said why not and got casted into the show,” Perez said. “I thought it was a joke, my heart stopped.”
Already in its third season Model Latina representatives said the show had been an idea for years before it originally aired.
“We wanted a show contemporary in genre,” Perez-Brown said. “I’m hoping to provide role models.”
The show is in English and can be seen on Mondays at 9 p.m. on channel 154 and 880 through Time Warner Cable and Channel 276 on Verizon FiOS.
Representatives for the show are already discussing the show’s next season. “We’re not as big as America’s Next Top Model, but the fact that we exist is a big accomplishment,” Perez-Brown said.
