IMTA: The time of our life’s

My daughter with Michael Maddox

My daughter with Branden Rickman winner of So You Think You Want To Be A Supermodel

English: Westin Bonaventure Hotel as seen from the platform of 444 S. Flower Street, Los Angeles. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Jeans Competition

The winning fierce look

1st Place trophy for Runway/fashion print

Awards Night IMTA

Last year my daughter was selected from our small town in Oregon to fly to Los Angeles, California to attend IMTA. She competed in modeling and acting. IMTA stands for International Modeling and Talent Association. It is a national convention where aspiring models, actors, and singers are seen by the top agents in the world. It is a true honor to be invited. My daughter and I flew to LA and stayed at the plush Westin Bonaventure hotel. We felt spoiled, it was a very beautiful hotel. The top floor was a revolving restaurant. The elevators were see through capsules attached to the outside of the building so you got a great view of the city as you rode up and down them. A Clint Eastwood movie was filmed on these cool elevators years ago and  many other movies as well.

The convention lasted  five days. There were many categories of competition such as runway, jeans, bathing suit, monologue, just to name a few. At the end of the week there is an awards and entertainment party. Oh my goodness! The party was beautiful! White linen tablecloths with candelabras and butlers standing stiff with a white clothe draped over their arm just ready to jump to serve you. There where celebrity guests. Switch the winner from So You Think You Can Dance was there to do his cool dance. Lots of celebrity models were there from some of the television shows such as So You Think You’re a Supermodel? It was a lot for this country girl to take in…I loved every minute of it.

During the first day my daughter selected for the Michael Maddox fashion show that was to take place at the awards show at the end of the week. For those of you that don’t know, Michael Maddox has directed and produced many of the Victoria Secret Fashion shows. So it was an honor for her to be picked for the first round of cuts. Unfortunately, she didn’t make the other two rounds of cuts for that show. She felt honored though as we were told he only picks girls that are over 5’9 and my daughter is 5’7. She did get a picture with Michael Maddox. My daughter did win first place in runway and fashion print. She also won fourth place in fitness model of the year. Wow! what an honor! She had many call backs overall.

IMTA is where Eva Longoria, Katy Holmes and Ashton Kutcher were discovered. There are a bunch of celebrities that have been discovered at IMTA  over the years, as it is the place to get noticed.

During our week-long stay we visited the Hollywood walk of fame. I was a little surprised at the panhandlers that approached us every few feet though. It was a little daunting as they got really close to our faces and begged for money. They were scary looking and some of them didn’t look very healthy to say the least.

We didn’t get to see a lot of things in LA as the schedule was very grueling. The contestants were up before the crack of dawn and got to bed well after midnight. We did take a stroll downtown close to the hotel and went in the LA county library. I would recommend going there as I think it was beautiful! It is not your usual library. It is a show piece.

I loved seeing all the palm trees in California and I missed the warm weather as I grew up in Southern California and had not been there for over 25 years. I felt like a homing pigeon who had just come back home; even with all the smog! It was the time of our life’s and we made a lot of mother-daughter memories we will never forget. I am posting some of our pictures for you all. I hope you enjoy!