Wallington teen is sitting pretty
By Denisa R. Superville
Herald News / May 5, 2007
Wallington – Four hours before the most important night on the high school calendar, Ewelina Gradowska was sitting on a high stool in her mother’s kitchen, twitching nervously as her mother lined her eyes and finished her makeup.
Gradowska, 19, is no ordinary senior getting ready for the prom. She is the 2007 cover model for the North Jersey edition of Prom Guide, a free magazine distributed in high schools nationwide that provides helpful tips on what every teenager needs for the big night.
I’ll be fine when it’s over,” Gradowska said, as her mother instructed her to “look up,” “down,” “close your eyes,” in a mix of Polish and English.
By the end of the hours-long session, the previously jean-clad teenager had morphed into a statuesque model in a floor-length eggplant-colored gown.
The 5-feet-10-inch Wallington High School student was chosen from thousands of applicants nationwide to represent her graduating class in a Web-based competition that considered achievement and beauty, said Garfield Bowen, the magazine’s publisher.
To participate, students had to be recommended by 10 members of the graduating class and one teacher, Bowen said.
”I didn’t really expect to win,” said Gradowska, who entered the contest on a whim, without telling her family.
Life changed little after the magazine came out this year. A few students pointed out that they had seen her on the cover but, apart from that, Gradowska continued with her after-school job, sports and studies.
After graduation, Gradowska, who plans to become a radiologist, will attend Bergen Community College. Modeling will have to be a side gig, she said.
If I get the choice for something good, I’ll go with it,” said Gradowska, who moved to the borough from Poland seven years ago. “But for now, it’s just a hobby.”
If you're a member of the 2008 graduating class and would like to be a Prom Guide cover model, click here to register now.
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