Media Advisory

Taking inspiration from a popular TV show to raise money for victims of the recent earthquake in Pakistan, 35 Johns Hopkins undergraduates will put cramming for finals on hold Wednesday night to compete in the university's first "Top Model" competition, with all proceeds from ticket sales and donations designated to UNICEF's South Asia Emergency Relief Fund.

Dubbed "Shaking it Up for the Quake Victims," the event will pit Johns Hopkins students from sororities, fraternities, sports teams, service organizations and arts groups against one another for the coveted Hopkins Top Model title. Photos and entertaining tongue-in-cheek profiles of contestants are online at www.vxchange.org/topModel.html. Contestants are vying for two $1,000 prize packages (one for men, one for women) including a photo shoot with John Robert Powers modeling agency, one of several donors contributing to this event. Other sponsors include Sodexo, which is catering the event, and Washington, D.C.-based DJ RZ, who is providing a free show.

The event is organized by the student group VisionXchange, a new service and international relief organization on the Homewood campus. The group says its goal is "to raise a lot of money for good causes while having a kick-ass fun time." Its mission statement is online at www.vxchange.org/aboutUs.html. To reach students organizing this event, contact sophomore Salmah Rizvi of Bowie, Md., at 301-785-1653. Media wishing to cover the contest should contact Amy Cowles Lunday at 443-287-9960.