Could you be the next Kate Moss?

Julia Breen speaks to top model scout Tracie Bestford, who is originally from Hartlepool, about her job, and what she looks for in a potential model.

TWENTY years ago, the founder of the Storm model agency, Sarah Doukas, "discovered" a freshfaced, 14-year-old Kate Moss at JFK airport.

Within a year, at the age of 15, Kate was on the catwalk and by the age of 19 she was gracing the cover of Vogue, her waif-like figure and impish face described as "defining a generation" by Calvin Klein, whose campaigns she fronted.

Top model scout Tracie Bestford doubts there will ever be another Kate Moss, but she is always on the look-out.

"A lot of people say, oh you're trying to find the next Kate Moss, but I really don't think there will be another model like that because she is just so special," she says.

"But as a model scout that would be brilliant, to find someone like that."

Tracie, 29, works for Storm Model Management's new faces department, and it is her job to "scout" young girls to work at the top agency.

Growing up in Hartlepool, she was a model herself during her teenage years, but then decided to go behind the scenes and moved to London to make it as a model scout.

She has been working for Storm for four years, and casually admits: "Yes, I know Kate. She comes in from time to time and she's really lovely."

STORM also spotted a teenage, size 16 Sophie Dahl, who is still on its books, although now of much slimmer proportions.

"We will look at bigger girls," says Tracie. "We don't like to take girls who are smaller than a UK size 8 anyway, unless they're obviously very naturally thin, and we do have girls who are a good size 12 on our books, and they get work. But they have to take care of themselves. They might be bigger in size but they still have to be toned.

"Height is also important. We prefer girls to be over 5ft 8ins, although again if someone is smaller but right for us, we would sign them. Also, if we spot someone aged 14 who is under the height limit, obviously by the age of 18 they may well be tall enough."

In fact, Tracie says the trend for size zero is coming to an end, with clients starting to ask for slightly curvier girls. This comes after recent claims that magazines were actually airbrushing models to be fatter than they were in real life.

Tracie's typical week consists of talking to models and their parents on the phone, keeping a good working relationship with them. Parents are important because they can spot early signs of eating disorders, something Storm is keen to avoid.

Storm founder Ms Doukas sat on the Model Health Inquiry in London last year, which sought to tackle the issues of anorexia among models following the deaths of Uruguayan models Luisel Ramos, 22, and her sister Eliana, 18, within months of each other two years ago. The Brazilian model Ana Carolina Reston, who suffered from anorexia, also died in November. None were signed to Storm, which has pledged to help tackle anorexia in the industry.

Tracie says: "We have to make sure that all are girls are a healthy size. When I'm scouting I can tell straight away if someone is naturally thin or if they have an eating disorder."

Girls - or boys - who are spotted before the age of 16 are encouraged to finish their exams, even if they want to go on to do Alevels before embarking on a fully-fledged modelling career, although Storm will keep in close contact with them until they start working. Tracie also spends her time scouting all over the UK, from the beach to music festivals, and Storm works closely with fashion chain H&M.

"My job is so interesting," she says. "Each day is different. There is a lot of travel involved but it is very exciting."

As Newcastle recently came top of a poll by a tabloid newspaper as having the UK's most beautiful people, Tracie is optimistic about her search next month.

But how does she tactfully turn budding models away?

"You just explain to them the reasons why. Sometimes it is because they are too short, for example.

"But we work with our clients on a daily basis and we know what kind of girls they are after, and we need to be able to find the products for them. Some girls just don't fit what they are looking for, no matter how beautiful or slim they are. And some girls are stunning in real life, but they don't take a great picture.

"Personality is also important. You can't be too shy or too demanding. At the end of the day our models have to work well with the client."

HOW TO GET YOUR BIG CHANCE

Storm model scouts will be in the MetroCentre between June 5 and 8. Storm is teaming up with the Metro Centre and Revive Juice Bars to help find male and female faces for the next advertising campaign in the Metro Centre.

Winners may get the opportunity to be signed up to Storm's books. The competition closes at 5pm on June 7. Anyone wanting to enter can hand in close-up and full-length photos and details, including a phone number, during the event or enter online before it, or by picking up an application form from the Metro Centre. For more information on entering online visit www.revivejuicebars.com. The final will be held on Sunday, June 8, after a 1.30pm fashion show at the MetroCentre, when a selection of entrants will parade on the catwalk before the judges. Entrants should be 16 and over and men should be over 5ft 10ins, women over 5ft 6ins.