Like many teenage girls, Lexy Rogers has dreams of becoming a model. That's why she and hundreds of other teenage runway hopefuls gathered yesterday at The Mall in Columbia for a chance to be featured in a Seventeen magazine photo shoot.

The magazine's "Rock the Runway" tour is stopping at malls in four cities around the country this month in search of models age 13 to 21 to appear on the magazine's Web site, seventeen.com.

The girls filled out applications, then had a professional photographer take a head shot. Seventeen planned to choose three winners from yesterday's open call. Each will win a $100 gift certificate and be photographed for the magazine's Web site.

The event also featured a teen fashion show that showed off the latest trends in bathing suits, prom dresses and casual wear, as well as free makeovers and a performance by singer Kat DeLuna.

Lexy, a student at Glenwood Middle School in Howard County, said she and her mother decided to attend the event after her father spotted an advertisement for it. She has already had professional photographs taken and said she's looking for an opportunity.

"I've been trying to get into modeling," Lexy said. "I just want to be in magazines and stuff."

Some attribute the turnout at events like these to the growing popularity of fashion-based reality television shows such as America's Next Top Model and Project Runway, with their target audience of teens and young adults.

"This is a direct reflection of reality television," said Brenda Cooper, an Emmy award-winning fashion consultant from Los Angeles. "Really, it's just a natural progression of what we see in the media. Everyone wants to be a star."

Lexy said reality television shows and the hit Disney show Hannah Montana helped encourage her interest in modeling.

The same for Alyssa Goldeisen, a freshman at Mount Hebron High School in Ellicott City. Although yesterday's event was her first modeling experience, shows like America's Next Top Model got her interested, too.

"I just love it," Alyssa said. "All the clothes you get to wear ... it seems like it'd be fun to do. And they're all really pretty."

The hopefuls who showed up for the open call ranged in experience from beginners like Alyssa to others with professional resumes.

Gina Lobasso, 16, a Chesapeake High School student from Pasadena who attended the model call, said she has modeled since she was 14, works with an agency in New York and has been photographed for teen magazines.

Gina said her favorite part of modeling is "probably getting my picture taken."

"I've always liked it," she said.

Bria Harrington, 15, a student at Atholton High School in Columbia, was waiting in line for a free makeover after having her picture taken.

"I really want to be in the model industry," she said. "I hope I can get discovered or even get my foot in the door."

Cooper, the fashion consultant, said that many modeling agencies and advertisers have expanded their searches to include young women with a "girl-next-door" appearance, in addition to the traditional tall, thin and glamorous look. She likened it to the advent of plus-size modeling a popular years ago.

"I think it's always evolving, that model paradigm," Cooper said. "The market has definitely broadened because we're not looking at just classically 'beautiful' women anymore."

Cooper added that scouting events for teen models are increasingly common, as reality TV shows like American Idol appeal to younger audiences.

"Women are maturing at a much, much younger age," she said. "Opportunities are opening up at a much younger age than ever before."

Teenagers' increasing interest in fashion is one reason the mall hosted the event for the first time, said senior marketing manager Jessica Bloom.

"We're really looking to highlight fashion for teens," Bloom said, noting the opening this week of the teen-targeted clothing store Delia's in the mall. "We're letting them know that they don't have to drive to D.C. or Philadelphia to find high-fashion items."

But despite the glitz and glamour that is often associated with modeling, Cooper noted that it is a grueling profession.

"As glamorous as it looks, it's very hard work," she said.

Terry Rogers, Lexy's mother, said her daughter has already had a taste of the stress that modeling can produce.

"It's hard to pursue," she said, noting the time commitment modeling requires. "We just thought we'd come out today and see what happens."

tyeesha.dixon@baltsun.com