Published: September 06, 2008 11:37 pm      

Local model makes it big

Logansport native starring in Web-based reality series

If you open up Vogue magazine, you may see a familiar face in a print ad for a Web-based reality series.

Logansport native Madeline Kragh is appearing in Model.Live, a series co-produced by modeling agency IMG and Vogue magazine.

The show, which can be viewed on Vogue.tv, Veoh.com and hulu.com, features Kragh and two other models while they travel the world pursuing their modeling careers.

Clothing retailer Express is using the show as a campaign for its clothing, which will be provided to the models throughout the show.

Madeline’s dad, Rex Kragh, said a crew is filming the three girls while they travel to New York, London, Milan and Paris — participating in casting calls, fashion weeks and runway shows.

The show, which debuted in late August, includes 12 eight-minute episodes.

In the summer of 2007, Madeline was signed to IMG and since then she’s already traveled the world, working runway shows, posing for international magazines and booking clothing campaigns.

Madeline recently signed up to do a Lee Jeans campaign in Sydney, Australia, where she is living in Bondi Beach, Rex said.

She also had posed for the cover of Australian magazine “Oyster” and did a photo shoot for Dolce and Gabbana in Toyko.

Rex said his daughter traveled around the world during the last 12 months and is getting ready to do it again, this time with a camera crew following her for the reality show.

Local photographer Rich Voorhees took photos of Madeline throughout her youth, starting when Madeline was 5 or 6.

“I photographed her as a little girl and knew she had a look then,” he recalled.

He said Madeline stuck out from the other girls who wanted to pursue modeling.

“When she reached high school, she was wanting to do some unusual things for photography,” he said. “I am always up for the unusual or someone with a willingness and enthusiasm for taking pictures. I have lots of people who want to become models but don’t want to put forth the effort to be different. Some will get little modeling jobs at little or no pay or just for the fun of it. Very few reach Madeline’s position in the modeling world.”

He said he remembers one time Madeline decided to paint herself with white, yellow and red paint in an abstract pattern for a photo.

“If you saw her on the streets of Logan, you would have remembered it,” he said. “She was different. What other high school student is that adventurous?”

He said Madeline was always excited to pose for the camera.

“She came to me and said, ‘I want to do this, or I want to do that,’” Voorhees said. “You have to have that enthusiasm to do this. You’ve got to make yourself stand out. It’s a tough business.”

Bob Brock, principal of Pioneer Junior-Senior High School, remembers Madeline well from when she attended the small county school for part of her senior year. She attended Logansport High School as well, but ended up graduating from a high school in Arizona.

“She always wanted to model, that was her deal,” Brock said. “She was very likable. I’m not sure high school was her thing, I think she was more looking into the future. She had lots of goals and ambitions.”

Brock said Madeline was ready to pursue her career while she was a student in high school.

“She was a very mature, young lady — kind of beyond high school at the time — ready for the open sea,” he said.

Rex said Madeline plans on modeling for the next couple of years.

“Madeline is the type of girl — if she sets her mind to something, it’ll happen,” he said.

The dad said he’s proud of what his daughter has accomplished, and what she will accomplish in the future.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “After this year, she’ll be able to pick and choose more.”

Melissa Soria may be reached at (574) 732-5143 or via e-mail at melissa.soria@pharostribune.com