Project Runway Alum Heidi Elnora Selects Models from Auburn for Her 2010 Bridal Collection

So what draws a designer like Elnora to college campuses?

“For me, it gave me so many great opportunities to model, and I wanted to do that for girls as well. Just bring them out and give them a way to help their self esteem or do something fun and different, because there aren’t a lot of opportunities to model in Alabama,” Elnora said.

The casting call at Auburn was open to all female students, and was held in the Phi Mu sorority’s chapter room. Elnora asked each girl to show her their best runway walk, took individual photographs and performed one-on-one interviews to see if they met the “fabulous personality” requirement.

Elnora selected Rachael Jarvis, Heather Hodges, Emily Busby, Audrey Moore, Jen Cushing and Maymay Cates to represent Auburn at her show. These girls will not only walk down the runway in one of Elnora’s couture wedding gowns, but will also befeatured in a four-page spread in Birminham’s B-Metro Magazine.

And all 53 girls that came to the casting call walked away with helpful advice from Elnora, a rare treasure in such a cutthroat business.

“I love being one on one with the girls. I love everything about it,” Elnora said.

Elnora also uses her shows as a philanthropic outlet. All proceeds from The White Wedding will be donated to Camp Smile-A-Mile, a non-profit organization for children who have or have had cancer. Elnora said she always chooses a different charity that benefits children for her bridal events.

“God has blessed me with the talent He has given me, and that’s the only way I really know to give back,” Elnora said.

Showcasing her talent as a designer, giving back to her community and helping aspiring models all in one show is a complex task.

However, her best advice for success in the fashion industry is simple.

“Pray hard and don’t give up. If you fall, stand back up. If you fall again, stand back up again. Keep standing, keep walking,” Elnora said.

For more information about "The White Wedding," visit www.thewhitewedding.org.