Twelve cities.
One final.

The Meridia contest is a season-long search for two new faces, one woman and one man, run across twelve European casting days and decided at a final in Paris. Every stage is free.

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Empty runway under a single spotlight before the final

FINAL Paris · 05 Dec 2026

Three stages

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1 · Application review

You send three natural photos and basic details. Our scouting team reads every application and answers shortlisted candidates within three weeks. We only contact you if you are shortlisted.

2 · Casting day in your city

Shortlisted candidates join the nearest tour stop: a short walk, digitals taken by our photographer, and a conversation with the scouts. The whole visit takes about an hour, and there is nothing to prepare or to buy.

3 · The European final in Paris

Around 30 finalists from every city are invited to Paris on 5 December 2026, travel arranged with each finalist. A jury of scouts and working professionals selects the two winners.

Who can apply

Age: 16 to 26 on the day you apply.
Residence: any of the 27 EU countries, plus the UK, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and the Western Balkans.
Women and men — two separate boards, two winners.
Height: we recommend 170 cm+ for women and 183 cm+ for men, but striking faces outside these ranges are reviewed too; commercial and editorial markets differ.
Experience: none required. Most of our finalists had never modelled before.
Under 18? You can apply with the consent of a parent or legal guardian, who is welcome at every casting.

What the jury looks for

Four criteria, scored independently by each jury member: presence on the walk, photogenic quality in unretouched digitals, personality in conversation, and potential for the current European market. No criterion is about perfection — agencies look for singularity.

What winners receive

A one-year development contract with Meridia Models: coaching, test shoots, a professional portfolio and digitals, with all costs carried by the agency.
Introductions to partner agencies in Paris and Milan for placement on their boards.
Travel and accommodation to the final, arranged and paid by Meridia.

No cash prize is promised, because a career is not won in an envelope. What we commit to is work: real development, real introductions, real markets.

What it costs you

Nothing, at any stage. Applying is free. Casting days are free. The final is free, travel included for finalists. If anyone asks you for money in Meridia's name, it is a scam. Report it to us.

Questions we hear at every stop

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Do I need professional photos?

No, the opposite. We want three natural phone photos: face, waist-up, full length. No filters, no heavy make-up, no selfies. A plain wall and daylight beat any studio.

Can I apply if there is no tour stop in my country?

Yes. The online application is open to every eligible country, and shortlisted candidates are invited to the nearest stop, or reviewed remotely when travel is not possible.

What happens to my photos?

They are stored securely in the EU, seen only by the scouting team, never published without your written consent, and deleted on request. Full details in the privacy policy.

I applied last year. Can I try again?

Yes: faces change, markets change. Many candidates are shortlisted on a second application.

Is there really no fee?

Really: no application fee, no casting fee, no "photo pack", no paid workshop. A legitimate agency earns money by placing models, never by charging candidates.

When will I hear back?

Shortlisted candidates hear from us within three weeks, from an @meridiamodels.com address. Because of volume we cannot reply to every application; silence after three weeks means not this time.

Apply · free · 10 minutes

Twelve cities.One final.