Ethnic beauty brand Black Opal kicks off 2012 model search

NEW YORK — Ethnic beauty brand Black Opal has kicked off its 2012 model search to find the new face of Black Opal.

The national True Beauty Model Search contest kicked off on March 1; online entry will run through April 2. One grand-prize winner will be awarded a $10,000 educational scholarship and will become the new face of the brand.

Black Opal believes that true beauty is more than skin deep and is searching for applicants who are striving for education advancement, committed to bettering their community, and who are naturally beautiful, both inside and out, according to the company. Applicants will be evaluated based on essays, community service involvement, educational aspiration and a photo, which represents true beauty.

A panel of judges from the beauty and entertainment worlds will include singer/songwriter and VH1's "Love & Hip Hop" cast member and R&B singer Olivia; celebrity makeup artist Frank Guyton; international model and philanthropist Noella Coursaris; celebrity hairstylist Eric Bland; editor-in-chief of Juicy magazine Paula Renfroe; and celebrity fashion stylist Andre Austin.

One grand-prize winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship (payable directly to the school), an all-expense-paid trip to New York for a photo shoot and the opportunity to be featured in the brand’s 2013 marketing materials. In addition to the grand-prize winner, 10 finalists will be awarded $2,000 scholarships (payable directly to the school), as well as a chance to be featured in Black Opal promotional materials. All winners also will receive complimentary Black Opal skin care and cosmetics products.

True Beauty applicants can enter to win by visiting BlackOpalBeauty.com/TrueBeautyModelSearch or via Facebook at Black Opal Beauty.