ELLEgirl Model Search Judges

Sundie Hallen

Artist Manager & Communications Coach, Jonas Group

Sundie Hallen is an artist manager and communications coach with the Jonas Group, a high-growth artist management company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Jonas group clients include, Jonas Brothers, Jordin Sparks, Demi Lovato, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, Honor Society and more. Sundie is a marketing communications and personnel training expert who holds more than fifteen years of experience within the music and entertainment industries.

In addition, Sundie also has extensive brand development experience, has served as a professional voice coach, and has taught at several distinguished performing arts schools. Sundie has been recognized for her dynamic and personal approach to training, her highly energetic and interactive style, and her ability to create enjoyable and challenging learning environments. Sundie has an extensive international cross-cultural background, and has experience in leading select groups of American business leaders to participate in humanitarian efforts overseas.

Jym Benzing

Casting director at L'Oréal USA
www.loreal.com

Jym Benzing has called New York City home for the past 18 years, having worked in all aspects of the industry. Currently, he is the in-house casting director at L'Oréal USA for Global Marketing. Over the past four years he has been responsible for casting the advertising for L'Oréal brands such as Redken, Redken For Men, Shu Uemura, Urban Experiment, Pureology and Maybelline.

Previous experience includes 5 years of commercial casting (with powerhouse casting companies such as Godlove Casting and Martine Casting) where he was involved in casting such brands as Old Navy, Adidas, The Gap, Cover Girl and Arizona Jeans. Jym has cast everything from Fashion Runway to Reality Television, from Editorials to Theatre.

Shailah Edmonds

International Model and Runway Coach
www.runwaytosuccess.com

After winning a modeling competition and moving to New York City, Shailah's work began with the Ford Modeling agency. Her international career began in Munich, Germany, moving to Milan, and finally settling in Paris, working internationally for 3 years. She has graced the cover of Women's Wear Daily 6 times, and also appeared in Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Bergdorf's Catalog, every New York newspaper and more.

Shailah is currently based in New York City working as an avid modeling coach for several top agencies and schools. She has produced a top selling video entitled, “The Runway To Success” and is frequently booked to speak at model conventions and schools nationwide.

Jeff Cohen

President & Creative Director
MMG-Model, Talent & Celebrity Management
http://www.nymmg.com/

Jeff Cohen is President & Creative Director of MMG, an Intl. Model, Talent & Celebrity Mgmt. Company & Agency in NYC with offices in Toronto & Vancouver. MMG represents models, actors, recording artists & celebrities who’ve appeared on TV shows including American Idol, America’s Next Top Model, Ugly Betty, Good Morning America, One Life To Live, Nickelodeon, Disney & Gossip Girl and movies including Sex In The City & Confessions of a Shopaholic. MMG represents Gold & Platinum recording Artists, Dawn Richard of Danity Kane (Bad Boy Records), Anna Sundstrand formerly of “Play” (Sony/BMG) & O’Neal McKnight, “Check Your Coat”, (Universal Motown). MMG Models have appeared in magazines such as ELLE, ELLEgirl, Vogue, Details & People. MMG’s roster includes Abercrombie, Hollister & American Eagle Models as well as finalists from America’s Next Top Model & American Idol and many former Miss & Teen USA State Titleholders. MMG specializes in finding talent who constitute a "triple threat"- the ability to obtain work in the fashion, TV & film industries. Prior to founding MMG in ‘02, Jeff was CEO of the world’s largest recording studio & participated in the production of commercials, movies & TV shows such as Antz, Rugrats, The Cosby Show, Sesame Street, ABC Monday Night Football & the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City & Japan.

Maggie Mulhern

Beauty and Fashion Director,
Modern Salon Magazine
www.modernsalon.com/

Maggie Mulhern, Beauty and Fashion Director of Modern Salon Magazine, has spent the past 20 plus years working with some of the top names in the industry, shooting magazine covers and creating exciting pictorials for the inside pages. Wracking up hundreds of thousands of miles, Maggie has traveled the world to attend and cover hair shows and salon events. During New York Fashion Week, she can be found both back stage and front of house to bring Modern Salon readers the latest trends from the fashion industry. A former model, Maggie worked in both print and on the runway, and appeared on several magazine covers. "Great Looks", a beauty guide for large size women, was co-authored by Maggie and was published by Doubleday.

Cynthia Saldana

Owner, Ikon N.Y. Model Management
www.ikonmodels.com

Cynthia Saldana brings her excellent eye for talent, ability to spot a diamond in the rough, expertise as a former model and an agency owner to the ELLEgirl panel of judges. Her boutique-style agency, Ikon N.Y. Model Management, which was founded in 1996, prides itself on consistently serving each client's needs, as well as fulfilling the models' and actors' career goals. Ikon N.Y. Model Management represents models for fashion/beauty, commercial/advertising and editorial/runway. As a result, each model is developed to their fullest potential, allowing them to cross over into more than one market. The Ikon Artists Division represents Actors, Models, Celebrities and Athletes in commercials, television and film.

Craig Lechner

Casting Director, Impossible Casting
www.impossiblecasting.com

Craig Lechner attended SUNY Purchase films department and holds a degree in film studies. He began his career working with top ad agency, J. Walter Thompson. Craig is currently the owner and head Casting Director of Impossible Casting, which in its 15 years, has grown into one of New York's top print and commercial casting studios. Craig has cast print campaigns for Converse, Persol, Sprite, Dentyne, Doritos, Nokia, and has a vast commercial clientele ranging from Disney to Virgin Mobile. Impossible's editorial credits can be found in publications including Details, GQ, O Magazine, Italian Vanity Fair and more. Impossible Casting is based out of NYC with campaigns and castings running worldwide.

Christian Behr

Photographer
www.ChristianBehr.com/

Christian Behr has been a working photographer for 20 years. His images have appeared on the cards and in the books of models around the world with agencies including: Elite, Ford, Wilhelmina, Next, DNA, Storm, Silent, Women, Flash, Fashion, Irene Marie, Michele Pommier, Click, and more. Christian's work has been published in magazines in the USA, Europe, Asia, and South America. He shot the Fujifilm campaign advertisements and the Ford Supermodel of the World finalists in the Dominican Republic. Specializing in new face development, Christian can really spot the next ELLEgirl. He assists models in getting the right photos for their markets and finding the proper agents to get them moving in the right direction.

"Working with Christian Behr has been one of the true pleasures I've had in the fashion industry. He is an extremely knowledgeable photographer, but most importantly, he is an individual with true integrity."

Martha Birdsong Dunning

Freelance Producer

Martha Birdsong Dunning is a Freelance Producer & Wardrobe Stylist with 20 years in the photography industry. She began her career in the mid-1980's as an art assistant at Vanity Fair magazine, before moving in 1989 to the start up of Mirabella magazine. Presently, she manages photography production for several clients, including Graco, Kimberly-Clark, Smithfield Foods, Cabela's and Ocean Style magazine. Martha works regularly with her husband, Robert, producing and styling for a variety of shoots, primarily for their stock agency, world-renowned Getty Images, where her talents extend to casting of both signed talent, and "real people". She lives in New Jersey and is raising 2 teenage daughters.

Bonni Retzkin

United States Olympic and
World Team Figure Skating Coach

Bonni Retzkin has taught figure skating for over 32 years. Her teaching experience spans all levels of skaters. Bonni knows how to spot the full package and brings that to the judging panel for the ELLEgirl Model Search. Coaching beginners all the way up to Olympians such as Emily Hughes, Bonnie has been inducted into the prestigious Jericho Hall of Fame. Bonni is a member of the United States Figure Skating Association and the Professional Skaters Association where she participates in camps and other instructional activities. Bonni extends her joy and passion for the sport to her students who are teens and young adults. While focusing on fundamentals and artistry, Bonni's lessons are, above all, fun and enjoyable for all, and her students take what they have learned way beyond skating into their everyday life. Despite a demanding coaching schedule, Bonni finds time to put her high energy to good use by contributing to public service organizations.