"Oh my God, that was the scariest thing I've ever done in my life, " said a flushed Juliette Nolan (16) from Raheny as she stepped off the ramp to the cheers of the crowd. "We heard about it on the radio during the week and we just knew we had to come along."

The prize was highly coveted . . . a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes and the chance to meet Ms J Alexander, renowned catwalk coach of 'America's Next Top Model' fame. He'll be in Dublin on Tuesday to launch the new Compeed Style SOS range from Johnson and Johnson, and the winner of yesterday's competition, as well as the winner of a similar competition in Cork last week, will receive a private catwalk lesson with him.

"Everyone watches 'America's Next Top Model' and knows who he is, so it would be amazing to actually meet him, " said Emer Donnelly (16) from Clontarf, one of nine students there from Manor House school, Raheny.

One judge, Niamh Kellett of Verve Marketing, said they were looking for someone with confidence and style.

"Anyone who is able to have a bit of fun with it will rank highly with the judges, " she said.

The girls did their best to follow the judges' instructions . . . stand up straight, relax the shoulders and move with rhythm. Dubliner Shireen Sayed (27) said: "That was nerve-wracking, having everyone watch you. But I'd do it again."