>> Read about the Wish

“I looked so pretty, like a real model. I couldn't believe it was me!” exclaimed 17-year-old Mercedes. How many teenage girls would love to feel that way? For Mercedes, it was a dream-come-true.

 

A lovely 12 th grade student, Mercedes is eagerly looking forward to attending New York 's prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) next year, and becoming a model someday. Mercedes says that nothing – including her sickle cell disease – will stop her from realizing her ambitions. So Mercedes wished to launch her modeling career with a real photo session by the famed photographer, Nigel Barker, of the hit television program, America's Next Top Model .

 

Mercedes' wish day was as glamorous as she had hoped it would be, from beginning to end. She and her mother were escorted to the studio by limousine and then warmly welcomed by Nigel Barker and Tyra Banks, Mercedes' idol and the host of America's Next Top Model . Mercedes said getting ready for the photo shoot was an “amazing” whirlwind experience that included professional hairstyling and make-up, and then the chance to select gorgeous outfits from a rack filled with the latest styles by the hottest designers. She decided to glam it up with a trendy, black, velvet jacket and gold accessories. Posing for the photographer was the best part, and gave Mercedes a real feel for what it's really like to model. She loved it!

 

The next part of Mercedes' wish day schedule was a visit to two modeling agencies and Seventeen Magazine – a great opportunity to learn more about how to break into the world of her dreams. Once she was dropped off at home by her limousine, Mercedes sat down to open a basket of wish gifts from the Make-A-Wish Foundation ® . It was filled with tons of Cover Girl lipsticks and glosses, DKNY clothes, a Juicy Couture sweat suit, Chanel perfume, an Ipod, and a teddy bear that she loves. “It was the most fun ever,” Mercedes said of her wish experience.

 

Thrilled with her photos from the shoot, Mercedes is looking forward to assembling her portfolio and getting started on her dream career. She said, “I'm so happy because I want to do this so badly, and now I have a great head-start!”