Late Summer 2007; Source: The Connected Committee

Well, here we go again. This time is way different from the previous adventures: Rather than analyzing the best body or etc, we decided to break down what’s going on today — as in not now. We looked at the body (no pun intended) of work from some of the most prominent modeling talent from NYC’s urban modeling scene throughout 2007, and factored in the following:

Multimedia Features
Credentials of Photographers worked with
Level of Swagger
Volume of Fanbase
Conduct off-camera

After a long fought debate amongst the 10 panelists, we finally decided on a list we can collectively agree with. If you don’t agree with our selections, there are instructions below the list to respond, and we will reward our viewers with a special fan edition of “New York City’s Most Wanted” this fall.

10. Kimmi Vic – Brooklyn, NY; 5′ 6″ / 135 lbs / 36D-25-37
Photographer Rap Sheet: Berman Fenelus

Why She’s Hot: From Alabama via Hawaii, this former cop (no typo) has worked her way into the New York scene via hosting parties and features on digital magazines, but has won the masses over with her all-around work ethic and athletic body. A southern girl at heart, the stage has already been set for this workout buff, who has racked up a few thousand supporters on Myspace without a major publication feature.

Catch her if you can: www.myspace.com/kimmivic

9. Liza Irizarry – The Bronx, NY; 5′ 4″ / 120 lbs / 34-25-38
Photographer Rap Sheet: Frank Antonio, Nick Saglimbeni, Garth Aikens

Why She’s Hot: While a newcomer to most casual fans, Liza is no stranger to industry executives, as a 6 year veteran with many prominent brand features since 2003. While other models have come and gone during that time, this native New Yorker has continued to stay relevant despite the normal 2-4 year lifespan for the average model, appearing in RIX Magazine, BT Wheels (Big Tigger’s auto rim line), Smooth Magazine, and Show Magazine’s Lingerie Issue.

Catch her if you can: www.lizairizarry.com

8. Elise Alexandria – Brooklyn/Goshen, NY; 5′ 3″ / 115 lbs / 36DD-24-36
Photographer Rap Sheet: Frank Antonio, Dan Doyle, Israel Colon

Why She’s Hot: The Brooklyn native has developed a cult-like following after features such as Budweiser (via WPDH), TeamOmni, WWE Wrestlemania, and Adidas, and after taking some time off to establish the business end of her game, Miss Elise is poised to kick 2008 off with a bang, via the release of her own calendar, shot exclusively by Super Photographer Frank Antonio, along with a Bonus DVD and Mixtape. While other models are more worried about being in the limelight and keeping their popularity intact, this Puerto Rican diva has maintained her focus on the business end, securing numerous spokesmodel deals, while still recording her debut R&B album, due in 2008.

Catch her if you can: www.elisealexandria.net

7. Christina Llano – New York, NY; 5′ 4″ / 116 lbs / 34-25-36
Photographer Rap Sheet: Frank Antonio, John Ricard, Eric Vanlockhart

Catch her if you can: www.myspace.com/christinallano

6. Yago Mo’Nique – New York, NY; 5′ 7″ / 126 lbs / 35-25-35
Photographer Rap Sheet: Frank Antonio, Maya Guez, Matt Conrads, Chuck Holliday

Why She’s Hot: This Arkansas native decided that Little Rock wasn’t the place to establish her modeling & TV career, and arrived in New York City with around $1000 to get in where she fitted in. That feat she achieved, already blazing through New York City’s multimedia scene, with TV Hosting roles for Show Magazine’s DVD, Video City, Hip Hop Secrets, and the International Reggae & World Music Awards. If that wasn’t enough, this self-described Southern Girl virtually stoled the show on our publisher’s own “Holliworld TV” reality series, which scored the highest viewers to date. Not to forget print & runway features with Hype Hair Magazine, Seventeen, and Kiss-FM (NY), and this is only the beginning of a multi-faceted career that has made that thousand dollar gamble VERY WELL worth it.

Catch her if you can: www.yagomonique.com

5. Melitza Guerrero – Passaic, NJ; 5′ 0″ / 113 lbs / 32-27-36
Photographer Rap Sheet: Edward Ajaj, Felix Natal Jr

Catch her if you can: www.myspace.com/melitzaguerrero

4. Xtina Noel – The Bronx, NY; 5′ 2″ / 110 lbs / 34-24-35
Photographer Rap Sheet: Ray Thomas, Frank Antonio, JK Photography (Look Swimwear)

Why She’s Hot: This Puerto Rican & Italian Bronx Bomber has literally pushed her way through the already-crowded New York City scene and has developed a cult following in a rather short time period. After working with publication heavyweights Frank Antonio and Ray Thomas, the 5 foot 2 inch curvy Xtina has parlayed it into a Stuff Magazine Lingerie Show nod, Maxim Sirius Satellite Radio feature, Hollywood Poker Girls 2008 Calendar Finalist, and feature in RIX Magazine, all in 2007 alone.

Catch her if you can: www.myspace.com/xtinanoel

3. Cherylann Cooke – Yonkers, NY; 5′ 8″ / 150 lbs / 36-27-39
Photographer Rap Sheet: Felix Natal Jr, Hydra Multimedia, John Ricard

Why She’s Hot: Anytime you can appear as a model on any BET program an unprecedented 3 times (BET’s The Center), then your resume as a model has progressed in style. This curvy bombshell has also appeared in features for Azzure Denim Clothing, The Queens Tribune, and Miss Harlem USA, and it only gets better for the often-imitated but never duplicated Morena Entertainment representative (is she on your friends list?)

Catch her if you can: www.myspace.com/modelcherylann

2. Adree DeSanti – Paterson, NJ; 5′ 5″ / 110 lbs / 34D-26-33
Photographer Rap Sheet: FrizzyCube, Wil Fernandez, Marc Brown (MBNY Photo), Ray Thomas

Catch her if you can: www.adreedesanti.com

1. Nefertiti Jones – Long Island, NY; 5′ 8″ / 135 lbs / 36-26-38
Photographer Rap Sheet: Hydra Multimedia, QuestionMarc, Matt Conrads, Marc Brown (MBNY Photo)

Why She’s Hot: Anytime one is able to take a career and re-invent it twice — once as a budding writing (columnist) career, and again as a successful and powerful mogul — deserves to top the list, regardless of the amount of videos featured in. After appearing in nearly every prominent brand there is to be featured in over the past couple of years (I.B.Concept Magazine, Smooth Magazine, HUSH DVD and Magazine, Summer Bunnies 06 Calendar, Royal Blue Dimes Calendar, BET Radio, Apple Bottoms Fall 2005 Collection Fashion Show, Clara Clara Spring 2007 Catalog), ‘Miss Nef’ decided to do the one thing that most models of this genre very rarely do: move into another field to conquer, which has resulted in becoming a notable relationship columnist throughout New York City, and also as the CEO of House of MSH, a full-service fashion modeling agency. In between all of this, Nefertiti somehow managed to find time and become a co-host for Blok TV (hip-hop music show), and also launch City Chick Magazine (www.citychickmag.com), a mainstream variety digital publication revolving around Hollywood’s A-list celebrities, which averages a shade short of 1 million viewers monthly.

Catch her if you can: www.nefertitionline.com

And if you don’t agree or think you’ve got a better list — show us what you’ve got by emailing us at topten@avenue1online.com