More and more Russian girls aspire to be models and now girls in their teens are heading for model schools. Hundreds of girls from all over the country come to Moscow in pursuit of their dreams of strutting the catwalk.

At a central Moscow modelling school, thereare 80 students enrolled. They’re taught aspects of dance, performance and the all-important model walk. But not all the students here will go on to be catwalk professionals.

Christina’s dream is fast becoming a reality. Just fifteen years old she already has an agent and is starting to get work.

“Becoming a model was a spontaneous decision. I cannot say I’ve been dreaming of it all my life. I just decided to try it out. I sent an application. They answered. Ever since I’ve done ok,” she says.

It all started after she took classes at a modelling school. It’s a popular trend for girls in their teens hoping to give their potential modeling careers a head start.

Tatyana Koltsova, who set up the Red Star model agency – Russia’s first ever – in 1989, says it’s a tough world and many girls just won’t make it.

“It’s hard labour because it takes willpower and character and strict discipline. You know, being a model is not a lifelong trade. We used to tell the girls at the Red Star agency that it was all temporary,” Koltsova says.

Christina is determined though. We caught up with her at a casting. There’s a lot of waiting around and a lot of competition. Finally she gets her turn to show off her runway sashay. All in the hope of getting another chance to stride down a professional catwalk.