Jul 18, 2003/ FW/ --- Fashion is a business where youth it always put in a premium. Yet, yesterday, three 40-something women just received their first modelling contract from Wilhelmina.

Tina Kraft-Brickowski, 40, of Lake Oswego, OR is the latest woman to become part of a growing trend: 40+ women modeling the fashion world's latest designs.

[Photo from left to right: Linda Fischer (50), grand prize winner Tina Kraft-Brickowski (40), and Michele Smith (46) -- pose for the camera upon winning contracts with Wilhelmina Models. (PRNewsFoto)]

Kraft-Brickowski, one of over 10,000 women who entered the fourth annual MORE Magazine and Wilhelmina 40+ Model Search, won a $15,000 contract with Wilhelmina Models. Linda Fischer, 50, Napa, CA won the runner-up contract worth $10,000, and Michele Smith, 46, New York City won the second runner-up contract worth $5,000.

"Tina radiates - she lights up the room, the runway, the fashion shoot," says Susan Crandell, editor-in-chief of MORE magazine. "As the only lifestyle magazine dedicated to the 40+ woman, MORE's model search serves as a reminder that age is just a number and beauty is an attitude."

As the wife of NBA basketball player Frank Brickowski, Kraft-Brickowski spent 10 years on the road. Kraft-Brickowski and her now ex-husband have a child together; they have joint-custody of Jack and remain very close friends. Her lifelong passion has been decorating, gardening and remodeling historic homes. Tina is currently launching a houseware gift-service business, working out of a cottage she restored.

Kraft-Brickowski, Fischer and Smith were among ten finalists chosen to come to New York City to compete for the chance to win one of three modeling contracts with Wilhelmina Models.

The other finalists are: Leslie Bereiter, 44, Bellevue, WA; Maggie McDerrmott-Walsh, 40, Bernardsville, NJ; Susanne Heaney, 43, New Bedford, MA; Wanda Zee Cheng, 40, Manhattan Beach, CA; Deborah Sweezy, 53, Hickory, NC; Lezlie Brant, 45, Henderson, NV; and Teresa Norris, 43, Glendale, UT.

The winners of the Wilhelmina modeling contracts were selected by a panel of judges comprised of MORE's Editor-in-Chief, Susan Crandell; MORE's Beauty and Fashion Director, Lois Joy Johnson; Wilhelmina's President, Dieter Esch; celebrity make-up artist, Sandy Linter; acclaimed hair stylist, Mark Garrison of Mark Garrison Salon; Wilhelmina agents Gina Barone and Daureen Castonguay.

The winners were announced in New York City during a press event held at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers. At the event, the finalists modeled fashions from Nicole Miller, Norma Kamali and Donna Karan. During their trip to New York, the finalists learned how to walk a runway and modeled for their first national women's magazine fashion layout, which will appear in the November issue of MORE magazine.

Nearly $80,000 in prizes were awarded to the ten finalists contributed by Estee Lauder (beauty products, plus a $235 gift certificate at an Estee Lauder spa for each of the three contract winners), Nordstrom (gift cards to the three contract winners), Garnier Nutrisse (one-year supply of Garnier Nutrisse haircolor and hair accessories), Body Wrap (seamless shapewear), Alitalia and Italiatour (trip for two to Florence, Italy for the grand prize winner). Other sponsors are AOL, Diamond Trading Company and MasterCard.

"This model search has proven to be a great resource for finding women who have pride in the elegance and vivacity of their middle years," says Dieter Esch, president of Wilhelmina. "As the demand for 40+ models continues to increase, we anticipate great success for this year's winners."

One such success story is last year's First Grand Prizewinner Linda Cole, 42, of Waltham, MA. Since winning, she has been featured in a number of modeling campaigns, including Toshiba, Sigrid Olsen, and MORE's swimsuit layout in the May 2003 issue.

(Photo of models courtesy of More Magazine via PRNewsFoto)