17-year-old Carmel Mannion and Stephen Cupples, 21, will represent Ireland in a worldwide competition that will be held in New York in January. Contestants from 60 countries will vie in Ford Models Supermodel of the World Search for a modeling contract worth €500,000 ($655,000). Almost 4,000 young people had auditioned all over the country but only 14 girls and 10 boys made it to the catwalk in finals in Dublin’s Morrison Hotel last night, reports the Irish Examiner.

The panel of judges included Iris Minier, director of Ford Supermodel of the World in Paris, Julian Fallon of 1st Option Model Agency, Nicola O’Connell of Ballygowan, Miriam Hand of Lancome and Alan Boyce of Toni & Guy hairdressers.

The Ford Model agency first started the “Supermodel of the World” search in 1980. In January 2004 Ford Models found its latest “Supermodel”, 19-year-old Nataliya Gotsiy from the Ukraine.