Cover Kid Goes From the Galleria to the National Stage

Since winning our 2010 Cover Kids Contest, 10-year-old Brooke Falcone has spent time cheerleading, horseback riding and spending time with her friends. Oh, and she's also landed a modeling contract with a national children's clothing line, walked the runway in New York City, and completed photo shoots for prints ads in the Big Apple as well as the Midwest.

Brooke and her family didn't dare to dream that the contest would launch a "real" modeling career, but they're enjoying every minute.

"Winning the Cover Kids Contest was Brooke's first experience with modeling and now she is completely bitten by the bug!" said Kellie Falcone, Brooke's mom. "It gave her confidence to get out there and give this industry a try. It definitely gave her experiences and opportunities that otherwise would not have arisen."

Some of the highlights of the past year, said Kellie Falcone, were the initial photo shoot after Brooke was named the winner, with Jennifer Manion of Pixie Posie Photography, and appearing on the cover of the Fall 2010 issue of St. Louis Kids Magazine.

"Brooke was so proud of the magazine when it came out. We sent copies to all of our friends not in the area and she felt a little famous!" Kellie said. But that was just the start. What followed as a result of Brooke's modeling contract with locally-owned agency Menagerie Models were photo shoots for print ads for local and regional companies (see an outtake from a recent shoot below right).

Then, she hit it really big. Brooke was chosen to model for the national children's clothing company, Lipstik Girls, specifically for its new tween line called Elisa B. The company flew her to New York for three days to model for the company at the ENK Children's Apparel Show. While there she also modeled the company's clothes at photo shoots for ads in print and online.

"It was so exciting for her," her mother said.

Brooke still enjoys the hobbies typical of many 10-year-olds: competitive cheerleading, writing stories, horseback riding and playing with her friends. But through modeling she is learning a lot about what it's like to work with others on a professional level. She says that while modeling is work it's also a lot of fun. And she has some ideas about the future.

"She absolutely wants to continue modeling as well as get into television," her mother said. "She has been taking acting classes and is looking forward to what the future holds."

Brooke will be an honored guest at this year's Cover Kids Finals and Back-To-School Fashion Show on July 30 at the Saint Louis Galleria, hosted by KMOV's Virginia Kerr.

You still have time to enter your child into the 2011 Cover Kids Contest! Click here to be taken to our Cover Kids 2011 info page