By Barbara Robertson

CALLING all glamour and fashion fans – get ready for Style Force 2008. Whether you fancy your chances of being a top model or are trying to break into the modelling world, Style Force may very well be your gateway to the modelling world.

The Eastern Cape is a haven of talent and Style Force is the hottest model and designer competition in the region. But more than just a model showcase, it’s a joint fashion- driven initiative between Weekend Post and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) – under the auspices of the Fuchs Trust and Foschini – to promote new talent.Besides discovering untapped model talent, Style Force promotes fledgling designers through the Smirnoff Storm Young Designers’ Collection and showcases the work of NMMU’s third-year graduate designers.

This year’s young designers’ collection will also focus on a menswear collection.The funky Style Force competition also helps create job opportunities through its social responsibility initiative with crafters trained through learnership programmes at the PE College of Art and Design.First up for would-be models wanting to star in the Style Force fashion and model extravaganza – on October 10 – is to attend the model auditions on August 29.They can also make the most of the other glamorous catwalk opportunities offered by Style Force.

Winners will receive fantastic prizes and great opportunities designed to get their fashion dreams off to a great start. Among the top prizes for the winning models is R5000 from Weekend Post (top guy, top girl), plus a bucket load of other fantastic goodies.The competition is open to single young women between 18 and 24, and single guys 18 to 25. Watch Weekend Post for information on prizes, further details and all the Style Force fashion buzz!

Click on the Style Force link on The Herald website www.TheHerald.co.za for details and a registration form. Complete the registration form and bring it along with you to the Style Force auditions at the NMMU North Campus, Summerstrand (the former Technikon, off Admiralty Way), at the Goldfields Auditorium. You can also collect your registration form at the auditions where you will also receive your contestant number. The Style Force auditions will be followed by a foot stomping presentation of Free Creative designs from 55 NMMU first, second and third-year student designers who will be narrowed down to 26 to participate in the Smirnoff Storm Young Designers' Collections (SSYDC) to the sponsor's design brief "Clearly Sharp. Clearly Smirnoff". For the first time the exciting SSYDC competition will include a menswear collection.

Auditions take place on August 29 from 3pm until 5.30pm. A team of judges, all student designers and industry insiders, will narrow the field down to 15 guys and 20 girls who will be announced directly afterwards.Come along and show off your fashion style and strut your stuff for a place in the fab finals.

Remember to follow the first rule of fashion ... It’s not what you wear – but how you wear it!