When Maggie Schroeder, 20, of Mundelein decided to try out for "America's Next Top Model" March 25 in Chicago, she never imagined that she would walk away the winner of another modeling contest - the WGNtv.com top model madness photo contest.
Schroeder won the contest against 249 other young women who were chosen while waiting in line in Chicago to audition for "America's Next Top Model.""It meant so much," she said of winning. "I was crying I was so happy."
As the first-place finisher, Schroeder will get to announce the season finale of "America's Next Top Model" in a 10-second promotional announcement shot at the WGN-TV studios. Schroeder will head to the studio Tuesday, May 12, and the promo will air Wednesday, May 13.
But the thrill of getting to shoot a commercial is secondary to the true reason Schroeder wants to become a model: Her mom, Malena, was diagnosed with cancer in November, and her dad, Scott, was diagnosed with cancer in January. Scott also recently had to take a pay cut at his job because of the economy.
Schroeder hopes to help with the financial burden her family is experiencing through modeling, which she will continue to pursue. The Illinois State University sophomore also plans to come home after this semester to be with her parents and save them money by attending a college closer to home and getting a job. She is an early-childhood education major.
'Dreams come true' "She didn't have to do this, but she chose to do this, and that shows her priorities," Malena said of Schroeder coming home. "We've always said that she's as pretty on the inside as she is on the outside. The thing I really admire about my daughter is that once she sets her mind to something, she really follows through. I hope all her dreams come true."
Schroeder, however, doesn't consider her decisions to be a sacrifice.
"I'm more than happy to help out," she said.
Although she doesn't have any modeling experience, Schroeder was Miss Mundelein in 2007, the same year she graduated from Mundelein High School. And she's looking forward to learning more about the modeling industry through her promo for "America's Next Top Model." She said she'll be nervous during the shoot, but her parents will be right by her side.
Schroeder won the contest against 249 other young women who were chosen while waiting in line in Chicago to audition for "America's Next Top Model.""It meant so much," she said of winning. "I was crying I was so happy."
As the first-place finisher, Schroeder will get to announce the season finale of "America's Next Top Model" in a 10-second promotional announcement shot at the WGN-TV studios. Schroeder will head to the studio Tuesday, May 12, and the promo will air Wednesday, May 13.
But the thrill of getting to shoot a commercial is secondary to the true reason Schroeder wants to become a model: Her mom, Malena, was diagnosed with cancer in November, and her dad, Scott, was diagnosed with cancer in January. Scott also recently had to take a pay cut at his job because of the economy.
Schroeder hopes to help with the financial burden her family is experiencing through modeling, which she will continue to pursue. The Illinois State University sophomore also plans to come home after this semester to be with her parents and save them money by attending a college closer to home and getting a job. She is an early-childhood education major.
'Dreams come true' "She didn't have to do this, but she chose to do this, and that shows her priorities," Malena said of Schroeder coming home. "We've always said that she's as pretty on the inside as she is on the outside. The thing I really admire about my daughter is that once she sets her mind to something, she really follows through. I hope all her dreams come true."
Schroeder, however, doesn't consider her decisions to be a sacrifice.
"I'm more than happy to help out," she said.
Although she doesn't have any modeling experience, Schroeder was Miss Mundelein in 2007, the same year she graduated from Mundelein High School. And she's looking forward to learning more about the modeling industry through her promo for "America's Next Top Model." She said she'll be nervous during the shoot, but her parents will be right by her side.
