In just a few short hours, a group of gangly girls and boys crossed the line from wannabes to “potential models”. The auditions for the Delhi Fashion Week (DFW), held on Thursday, attracted 260 hopefuls at Le Meridien, each one primping and posing in line,

clamouring for their a slice of fame. The second edition of DFW will be held from March 19 to 24.

A 12-member jury, comprising designers Rohit Bal, Malini Ramani, Atsu Sekhose, Alpana Mittal of Azara, ad-man Prahlad Kakkar, models Fleur Xavier and Neha Kapur and fashion photographer Tarun Khiwal among others, judged the catwalk contenders over style, charisma, and individual personality, as well as for “character and integrity”.

Kakkar, widely known for finds such as Fleur Xavier and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, said, “The fashion industry is like a meat market; if you have it you are in, if you don’t you are out. Indian models have potential but a lot of them are not groomed, unlike in the West. A difference between a model and a supermodel lies in character.”

Of the 80 female aspirants, seven made it to the shortlist, of which only one was an Indian face. Among those who made the cut was Los Angeles-based Talia Bentson, 23, who was called twice by Rohit Bal to walk the ramp. And Bal was floored. “We are looking for avant-garde, aren’t we?” he said, as some of the judges baulked at the decision. Another lucky girl was Russian student Helena, 21. “I do a bit of modelling in Russia and am in Delhi for two months. I got to know about the auditions from my modelling agency Karma,” said Helena in halting English.

Ukrainian Iryna Kalchenko, 22, was a favourite among the judges with her chiselled looks and lean frame while the dusky Swede Miriam, 22, elicited an enthusiastic “fabulous” from Bal. An exuberant Iloraah, who has walked the ramp in London and New York, said, “I came to India in 2007 and like it here. I have decided to become a full-time model.”