All were hoping to be "New Zealand's next top model".
About 30 young women turned out at the Queenstown Performing Arts Centre rooms yesterday as the nationwide search began for finalists in TV3's upcoming programme.
While the nerves were obvious in some, the day got off to a perfect start for Rosie de Malmanche (21), originally from Alexandra but now living in Queenstown.
Ms de Malmanche was the first to enter the audition room and take her place in front of actor and model Colin Mathura-Jeffree, TV3 producer Anna Lynch and 63 Models representative Andrea Plowright.
After about 10 minutes with the judging panel, Ms de Malmanche left the room shaking like a leaf but smiling brightly, having made it through the first round.
The judges were suitably impressed with the first day of searching, having no idea how big the interest may be in the resort.
"I just thought there was such diversity in such a small town," Ms Lynch said after the audition.
"They were all beautifully turned out, I was impressed with the style. This is day one - we had no idea if we'd get 10 or 100 or 1000 girls. We were thrilled to get the turnout we have."
While the judges didn't like having to turn people away, it was the nature of the industry, Mr Mathura-Jeffree said.
"This industry is built on that kind of stuff . . . you just have to have the perseverance".
Following on from Invercargill and Dunedin, the search heads to Timaru on Thursday before stopping in Christchurch and Nelson.
The judges will take a break over Christmas before resuming the search in Wellington on January 12 for the North Island leg of the auditions.
Those who are successful in the first round will be culled to 33 by the judging panel in Auckland following the North Island tour.
Those 33 will then have to travel to Auckland to begin the search for the final 13 candidates to compete on New Zealand's Next Top Model.
As yet, there is no confirmed time for when the show might go to air.
Auditions in Invercargill will be held from 10am to 1pm today at the Civic Theatre Drawing Room and from 10am to 3pm in Dunedin tomorrow at the Fortune Theatre.
