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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Maui mom vying for chance to be next 'Top Model'

By Loren Moreno
Advertiser Staff Writer

Renee DeWitt

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'AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL'

7 tonight

KHON-CW, Oceanic digital channel 93

Also: see video recaps of "America's Next Top Model" at cwtv.com

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Maui resident Renee DeWitt, right, will attempt to make it past yet another round of eliminations on tonight's episode of "America's Next Top Model" on The CW.

DeWitt, a 20-year-old stay-at-home mom, is one of 13 contestants in the eighth season of the popular model reality show created and hosted by talk-show host and model Tyra Banks.

"I believe I can take it further than just 'America's Next Top Model,' " said DeWitt in a taped interview with the show's producers. "I believe if I want something bad enough and I focus all of my positive energies on it, that it's going to come to me."

DeWitt got past the first round of elimination during the show's season premiere last week. The 13 contestants participated in one of "Top Model's" signature photo shoot challenges and a thrift-show runway challenge, which required contestants to create their own outfits with finds at a Goodwill store.

In the end, a 20-year-old hairstylist from Brooklyn, known only as Kathleen on the show, was eliminated. The remaining 12 contestants were sent back to their Los Angeles mansion to await the next challenge, which airs tonight.

Contestants are barred from talking to the media until they are eliminated from the show, said CW spokeswoman Carmen Davenporte.

CW is promising a season with even tougher photo-shoot challenges, including a few that may be a bit controversial.

The winner of the part-reality show, part-modeling boot camp will be managed by Elite Model Management and get a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl. The winner will also appear on the cover of a six-page fashion spread in Seventeen magazine.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.