I would have posted this earlier, but it’s been a heck of a week. Between settling into my new job and my new home, Mona got sick. Last weekend, Mona served as judge for the Brand Model talent search contest at the District shopping center in Tustin. And let me tell you in retrospect it was a gutty performance. She was not feeling well at all. And it just got worse, enough so that I insisted Monday night that she go to urgent care in the morning. So she did, but got turned away by two before she wisely went to the emergency room where she was diagnosed with an infection. She’s feeling much better now, thank God, but it sure scared us.

So, without further ado, here are some memories from the talent search. The Brand modeling agency held a casting call at the District earlier this month and received applications from more than 150 hopefuls. Last weekend, it was down to the finalists. The big prize was a one-year contract with Brand. The best part was hearing the judges and emcee Greg Zarian pep talk the models who did not win. He told them they all made it to an exclusive group of people and that they would be crazy not to follow up with Brand for modeling gigs.

Enjoy the pictures:

Fun-loving emcee Greg Zarian having a blast hosting the festivities.

Zarian has fun leading the contestants in a game of “Simon Says.”

Zarian quizzes the guys.

Then it’s the girls’ turn. He asked them all kinds of goofy questions. It felt like the “Dating Game.” “Bachelor No. 1, you’re on a date and…”

Zarian also pointed the microphone at the judges too, including Mona. The others on the panel included my good friend Greer Wylder of Greer’s OC, Patty Brand and Linda Robirds of Brand Model and Talent Agency, and travel and fashion photographer Joe Regan.

Male runner-up Jared Stillman

Female runner-up Megan Tremblay

Male winner Kyle Wilson

Female winner Melisa Cawthorne

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