Behind the Scenes at the World's First Green Model Competition

Winner Rachel Avalon

rachel avalon, project green search, models, fashion, beauty, women rachel avalon, winner of project green search green model competition

The first Project Green Search green model competition wrapped up in Los Angeles, and Rachel Avalon (pictured) was declared the winner. Here she dazzles in EcoSkin apparel, with Smart Glass earrings. In addition to the awards ceremony and several other events, Avalon and nine other finalists took part in a professional shoot of eco-friendly clothes and makeup at the lovely Environment Furniture showroom in Beverly Hills.

Avalon is a holistic nutritionist and green guide. She lives in L.A. and volunteers for various green causes; check out this q&a she did with Starre Vartan. Avalon says she hopes to play a role as a spokesperson for a new green revolution. Read on to meet the other Project Green Search contestants, and get a glimpse of their fun-filled, glamorous week!

10 Finalists

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, environment furniture 10 finalists for project green search green model competition at environment furniture los angeles The 10 finalists for Project Green Search strut their eco-friendly stuff at Environment Furniture. From left to right: Zion Francis wearing Stewart+Brown, Leilani Munter wearing Stewart+Brown with McFlashpants jewelry, Karen Pannocchia wearing Stewart+Brown and Charmone shoes, Ariel Clay wearing Mountains of the Moon and Charmone shoes, Erika Schmid wearing Stewart+Brown and Charmone Shoes, Jessica Williamson wearing Deborah Lindquist and Charmone Shoes, Juliana Tran wearing Stewart+Brown and Charmone Shoes, Vanessa Meier wearing Stewart+Brown and Charmone Shoes, Rachel Avalon wearing Stewart+Brown, Rachael Joy wearing Stewart+Brown and Charmone Shoes.

Erika Schmid

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, erika schmid erika schmid modeling ecoskin green clothes for project green search PGS finalist Erika Schmid in EcoSkin, with McFlashpants ring. Schmid hails from Portland, Oregon and just finished her BA in Environmental Management. She volunteers with a number of green causes and used to work as an environmental canvasser.

Getting Ready

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty starre vartan talks to karen pannocchia at project green search Eco-Chick Starre Vartan, a judge for PGS, chats with finalist Karen Pannocchia as she gets ready for her "green look."

Electric Car Shoot

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, tesla roadster, leilani munter leilani munter with a tesla roadster PGS finalist Leilani Munter gets ready for her shoot with the Tesla Roadster electric car. Munter describes herself as "just your typical recycling, composting, treehugging vegetarian hippie chick that just happens to drive race cars."

Zion Francis

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, zion francis zion francis green model at project green search PGS finalist Zion Francis is a model, actress, activist, and civil engineer who specializes in sustainability. Hailing from Austin, Francis has volunteered with Engineers for a Sustainable World, the Sustainable Food Center, and various food co‐ops, and worked for the Forest Service in the Sierra Nevada on watershed restoration.

Vanessa Meier

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, vanessa meier vanessa meier in ecoskin for project green search Finalist Vanessa Meier in EcoSkin with McFlashpants necklace. Meier holds a B.S. and M.S. in geology, and has worked extensively to protect our oceans. Living in Santa Monica, Meier is also a longtime vegan, and now works as a green and vegan consultant.

Sharing a Moment

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, juliana tran, ariel clay juliana tran and ariel clay at environment furniture for project green search Finalists Juliana Tran and Ariel Clay share a laugh between takes at Environment Furniture.

Jessica Williamson

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, jessica williamson jessica williamson for project green search PGS finalist Jessica Williamson in EcoSkin with a McFlashpants necklace. If Williamson looks familiar, it may be because the green-eyed redhead spent two years as the host of ZapRoot, the hip, irreverent Web series about all things green living. Williamson grew up in New Zealand but now lives in Los Angeles. We can't wait to see what she takes on next.

California Dreaming

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, hotels planet green search finalists on balcony PGS finalists take in the California view from the Standard Hotel.

EcoStiletto Conference

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, ecostiletto project green search finalists at ecostiletto conference The PGS finalists made a special appearance at the EcoStiletto conference across town, showcasing fresh green fashions and spreading the good word about green living.

EcoStiletto Conference

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, ecostiletto starre vartan talks with lauren selman at ecostiletto conference Eco-Chick (and TDG contributor) Starre Vartan (right) talks with Lauren Selman (left) of REEL Media at the EcoStiletto conference.

Rachel Joy

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, rachel joy rachel joy at project green search Rachel Joy models chic green, with a necklace by McFlashpants. Hailing from Mount Rainier, MD, Joy was once crowned "Mother Earth" in her hometown. Joy has hosted several online shows on green topics, and is a spokesperson for Environmental Defense Fund. She founded ecopop TV.

Ariel Clay

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, ariel clay ariel clay for project green search Finalist Ariel Clay looks great in Stewart+Brown and Charmone shoes. Clay is a model from San Francisco who tries to incorporate green living into everything she does.

Aysia Wright Behind the Scenes

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, aysia wright aysia wright of the greenloop organizes project green search Aysia Wright of The Greenloop organized Project Green Search with Remy C. and others.

Michael Kaliski and Vanessa Meier

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, michael kaliski, vanessa meier michael kaliski chats with vanessa meier at project green search Michael Kaliski of Omniquest Media chats with PGS finalist Vanessa Meier. Kaliski helped judge Project Green Search and set up the after party at Ecco Ultra Lounge.

Leilani Munter

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, tesla, leilani munter leilani munter with tesla roadster at project green search Leilani Munter hopes to use her high-profile position as a race car driver to bring the green message to a whole new group of people. She lives in North Carolina.

Good Food, Good Friends

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, jessica williamson jessica williamson chats with project green search finalists over food Jessica Williamson (center) chats with other PGS finalists over eats.

PGS After Party

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Juliana Tran

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, juliana tran juliana tran in ecoskin and mcflashpants necklace for project green search Juliana Tran rocks the EcoSkin look with McFlashpants necklace. From Austin, TX, Tran is passionate about healthy food and renewable energy. She worked for an NGO in Brazil and got her degree in environmental studies.

Karen Pannocchia

project green search, fashion, models, green models, women, beauty, karen pannocchia karen pannocchia in ecoskin for project green search PGS finalist Karen Pannocchia models EcoSkin. The Miami native is an environmental science teacher with a masters degree in the field. She worked in the Dominican Republic for four years on a USAID-funded environmental policy project.

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