From every corner of the country, they came.

All taller than average. All with a dream. It was audition day at the Dundrum Town Centre for the next Ford Supermodel of the World. Auld ones and shorties need not apply.

By 11am, when the auditions opened yesterday, the queue was already snaking around the building. Only girls between the ages of 14 and 21 could enter the competition. Which explained the idealistic atmosphere, and the unusual number of bracesclad teeth.

For 15-year-old Jennifer Regan from Castleknock, Dublin, and her 16-year-old friend Claire Miller, this was the chance to finally get recognised.

"I'm really interested in fashion anyway, so if I don't become a model, I'll probably be a designer, " says Jennifer. "It's totally not true that models are dumb. Claire is like, really smart.

She got all As in her Junior Cert."

Claire looks proud and a little embarrassed at this revelation. "I'm going to be an actuary, " she says. "But I'd love to be a model too.

We were practising our signature walks in the mirror, and we've been watching America's Next Top Model for all the tips. See, you're not meant to pout, like all the girls do on Bebo."

She pouts in imitation.

"And if you're not wearing shoes you're meant to point your toe like this, " says Jennifer, and arches a dainty foot towards the concrete.

A few yards away, two teenage boys are gaping in delight. Nudging each other in the ribs, they promptly join the queue.

"Sorry lads, this is a modelling competition. For girls, " says a Dundrum security guard.

One of the young Casanovas slaps his friend on the back of the head. "Donner, ya idiot, " he says, and stalks off. Donner hurries after him.

Oblivious to this exchange are three school friends from Malahide and Swords, who are nearing the top of the queue. "I haven't eaten chocolate for a week, " announces 16-year-old Marjory Heron proudly. "My mum saw the application in The Daily Mail, and she got me to fill it out. She's always wanted me to give modelling a go, but you know, your family always think you're more photogenic than you actually are." She blushes delicately, and you can see why her mother took the scissors to The Daily Mail.

Inside the building, the auditions are continuing apace. Julian Fallon, managing director of 1st Option Modelling agency, is sitting in the centre of the judging panel.

"We're looking for a very fresh face and a good attitude, " she says. "A healthy-looking girl too, that's very important. It's interesting, actually . . .

last year, all the girls were saying their favourite model was Kate Moss. This year, everyone is saying Tyra Banks, and we think that's great, because Tyra is so healthy and curvy."

The judges said that they'd already been impressed with a few of the girls who had turned up, though they wouldn't give any specifics. "It's hard to explain, but you just know it when you see it, " says Fallon.

A dark-haired girl is next up to the judging panel. Peering through the partition, her mother bites her lip anxiously. "She's always wanted to do this, " she whispers. "Oh, here comes the walk. Very good, good. A bit fast, maybe. God, it's over already. That was much quicker than the others. Ah well. She'll be disappointed with that. Ah well. Sure, it's not a real job anyway, is it? She's better off with the teaching."