Foothill High graduate gets shot at ‘Next Top Model’ title

By Diana Cox (contact)

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 | midnight

Courtesy of CW Network

Brittany Rubalcaba, a 2006 graduate of Foothill High School, will be one of 14 participants battling to win the title of America's Next Top Model.

When the latest installment of "America’s Next Top Model" hits the air on Wednesday, Henderson residents may find the tall, lanky model named Brittany looks strangely familiar.

Some might think she looks an awful lot like the girl who works at the Black Mountain Recreation Center in Henderson. That’s because she is the girl who works at the Black Mountain Recreation Center.

Brittany Rubalcaba, a 2006 graduate of Foothill High School, will be one of 14 participants battling to win the title of America's Next Top Model. The show airs at 8 p.m. Wednesdays on The CW Las Vegas, Cox cable Channel 6.

The 19-year-old Henderson native is confident she has what it takes to beat out the other 13 competitors to win a contract with CoverGirl Cosmetics and a cover shoot for Seventeen magazine.

"I don't look like any of the other girls," Rubalcaba said in a promotional video. "I am very confident that I will make it through."

Rubalcaba was unavailable for a live interview prior to the show's airing.

Black Mountain recreation program coordinator Juanita Kariuki, who has known Rubalcaba since she was a child in the recreation program, said she already was a fan of the show.

Now that Rubalcaba will be appearing, Kariuki said, she will be tuning in for sure. "I'm not even going to TiVo it," she said, implying she will watch as it airs.

Rubalcaba's other co-workers are excited for her, too. Micahel Esbeck, who has worked with her at the recreation center for three years, said Rubalcaba will be the first person he knows who has been on television.

Another co-worker, Chris House, said he feels good about Rubalcaba's chances in the competition. "She could win it," he said.

Rubalcaba said she thinks her experience in the marching band at Foothill could give her an advantage. She said it taught her discipline.

Foothill High School Band Director Travis Pardee was not surprised to hear his former student, whom he called hard-working and respectful, won a spot as a contestant on the show.

Pardee said being a member of the marching band taught Rubalcaba the "art of jumping through hoops."

During band practice, students have to juggle several different tasks, often having to quickly learn new formations and songs, he said. Pardee predicted "Next Top Model" judges will expect contestants to learn on the fly as well.

The models' abilities will be tested each week as they strive to master the runway, fashion photo shoots, publicity skills and learn the business side of modeling.

Rubalcaba's experiences will all be captured on camera, 24 hours a day, seven days a week as part of the reality show created by one of the most famous models in the world, Tyra Banks.

This won't be Rubalcaba's first time in front of the cameras, though. In November 2007, she was the cover model for Las Vegas Weekly.

Diana Cox is a reporter for the Home News. She can be reached at 990-8183 or diana.cox@hbcpub.com.