Rynfield resident Chrissy de Beer (8), a learner at Ridgewood College, has been selected to go to New York City to compete on the International Model and Talent Association (IMTA) stage where she will take part in all four categories, singing, dancing, acting and modelling.
She leaves on this exciting journey on July 15, and will return to Benoni on August 15. They will be doing site seeing while they are there as well.
In addition, Chrissy will compete in a further 14 sub-categories, such as runway, jean modelling, theatrical head shots, monologues and dialogues and more.
Included in her IMTA package, Chrissy will also have her very own photo-shoot at Times Square and the Brooklyn Bridge, and attend a New York Film Academy workshop.
“I am going to be turning nine just before New York on July 11,” said Chrissy, eagerly asking her mom if she can have her birthday party there too.
IMTA selects only the best performers from around the world for this chance to be recognised in New York, and offers an international panel of agents, record labels, casting directors, managers and producers from Hollywood, Miami, New York City, Atlanta, Europe and Asia.
According to Chrissy’s mom, Tasha, as a baby Chrissy skipped the crawling stage and went straight to walking. However, this eagerness to get up and about left her with a weak core, which in turn led her to ballet.
“Chrissy has been doing ballet since she was three years old which assisted in strengthening her core and she enjoys it thoroughly,” said Tasha.
“But Chrissy wanted to do more than ballet and her love for dancing led her to modern dancing and freestyle.
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“The entertainment industry is where Chrissy loves to be, it isn’t only her love for dancing that has gotten her all the way to an invite to New York City.
“She also sings at the Lifetime Music Academy at the Covenant Life Church, in Northmead, and has also been playing the keyboard for about a year.”
A talent agency called 33 and Me is working side by side with this talented entertainer.
In 2018 Chrissy was invited to participate in a fashion show and auditions for Arts International, but was unable to attend either one of the events due to a broken arm
However, she did enrol for a monologue drama and a one-minute song audition at the Arts International in December that year when her arm had healed.
On the day of the auditions, Chrissy was also asked to walk the runway and was called back for all three categories – singing, dancing and acting, before being awarded the best overall performer of the evening.
These auditions were done in front of a panel of high-profile entertainment figures, such as Joey Hunter,(former CEO of IMTA, Nate Butler,singer, producer and songwriter and a representative from Tyler Perry Studios.
“Everyone Chrissy and I met were very inspirational,” said Tasha.
IMTA is one of the biggest conventions in the world where celebs like Ashton Kutcher and Eva Longoria were discovered.
“It’s a huge an eyeopener as to what is actually out there, and you need to prepare in advance and know what kind of agencies you would want your child to be recognised by,” said Tasha
In January, Chrissy attended a weekend workshop with industry leaders to prepare her for the IATAs.
The next workshop is in April, just two months before the big event.
“33 and Me and Ridgewood College have really been fantastic.
“Chrissy wouldn’t be where she is today without their support.”
When asked what new things she would like to try while in New York City, Chrissy said definitely it would be the unicorn coffee at Starbucks.
