Trump Model Management director of scouting Duane Gazi was in the city as part of an Oceania tour to find fresh faces for the firm.
He spent the day at AliMcD Agency meeting eight models and searching for the "X-factor".
"We are not looking for the next cheerleader or pretty girl," he said.
Asked what exactly he was looking for, he said: "Obviously tall, thin, pretty girls".
But what made them stand out from the "thousands and thousands" of models he saw each year was "hard to put into words ... the X-factor".
"Everyone has a different idea of what they find pretty."
So far, his hit rate in Dunedin was not bad, with seven models signed with Trump from AliMcD, including Stella Maxwell, Nicole Clulee and Kayleigh Hancock.
Agency owner Aliana McDaniel said having someone with the calibre of Mr Gazi visit was great, but "all the hard work" would pay off if he decided to sign just one of the models he saw yesterday.
The process was quick and involved a brief chat with each model about their age, height and personal interests, before he took a few photographs.
"The initial thing is face value," he said.
One of the important factors was determining a model's ability to interact with adults, because the business often involved "young people thrust into an adult world".
"It's my job to be discerning."
