The International Modeling and Talent Association, or IMTA, is a professional organization of modeling and talent training centers from around the world, who meet biannually for talent and modeling conventions in both New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 and Los Angeles

Los Ángeles

Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...

.

Founded and continuously operating since 1987, IMTA conventions are week-long displays of modeling, acting, singing and dancing competitions where unsigned talent and models compete in hopes of being discovered by one of the nearly four-hundred fashion and talent agents, personal managers, casting directors, network representatives and music producers in attendance.

History

After its first meeting in New York City in the summer of 1987, IMTA’s early conventions found actor Elijah Wood

Elijah Wood

Elijah Jordan Wood is an American actor. He made his film debut with a minor part in Back to the Future Part II , then landed a succession of larger roles that made him a critically acclaimed child actor by age 9. He is best known for his high-profile role as Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson's...

 and model Joel West

Joel West

-Filmography:* Starting Out in the Evening * CSI: Miami .... Officer Aaron Jessop* All Features Great and Small .... Slickster Filmmaker * Star Trek: Enterprise .... Raakin * The Division .... Chris...

. Since then, actors and actresses such as Katie Holmes

Katie Holmes

Katherine Noelle "Katie" Holmes is an American actress who first achieved fame for her role as Joey Potter on The WB television teen drama Dawson's Creek from 1998 to 2003. Her movie roles have included the blockbuster Batman Begins along with art house films such as The Ice Storm and thrillers...

, Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher

Christopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...

, Eva Longoria

Eva Longoria

Eva Jacqueline Longoria is an American actress, best known for portraying Gabrielle Solis on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives...

, Jessica Biel

Jessica Biel

Jessica Claire Biel is an American actress, model, and occasional singer. Biel is known for her television role as Mary Camden in the long-running family-drama series 7th Heaven...

, Seann William Scott

Seann William Scott

Seann William Scott is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing Steve Stifler in the American Pie film series...

, Dennis Gibbs, Brandon Routh

Brandon Routh

Brandon James Routh is an American actor and former fashion model. He grew up in Iowa before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, and subsequently appeared on multiple television series throughout the early 2000s. In 2006, he gained greater recognition for his role as the titular hero...

, Alyson Stoner

Alyson Stoner

Alyson Rae Stoner is an American actress, dancer and singer. Stoner is known for her roles in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody , Cheaper By The Dozen and Cheaper By The Dozen 2 , Step Up and Step Up 3 , and Camp Rock and Camp Rock 2...

, Josh Duhamel

Josh Duhamel

Joshua David "Josh" Duhamel is an American actor and former fashion model. He first achieved acting success in 1999 as Leo du Pres on ABC's All My Children and later as the chief of security, Danny McCoy, on NBC's Las Vegas...

, and Ashley Greene

Ashley Greene

Ashley Michele Greene is an American actress and model, best known for playing Alice Cullen in the film adaptations of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight novels.- Personal life :...

 have competed and got their start at the week long convention, as well as models Jessica White

Jessica White

Jessica White is an American model and occasional actress and DJ.-Career:At the age of 16, White was scouted in her hometown of Buffalo, New York, and had gone to Personal Best modeling school at age sixteen...

, Branden Rickman

Branden Rickman

Branden Rickman is an American fashion model. Raised in Central Point, Oregon, he is perhaps best known as the winner of Make Me a Supermodel, Season 2.- Early life :...

, Bradley Tomberlin, Sara Dawson, Kim Lemanton, Sean Harju and Tyson Ballou

Tyson Ballou

Tyson Brett Ballou is a male model. Discovered by the modeling agency, Page Parkes, he has become one of the industry's most sought-after male models.-Career:...

.

Conventions

Held in January and July in Los Angeles and New York City, respectively, IMTA conventions are week-long events where thousands of unsigned models and talent compete and attend different acting and modeling competitions, runway shows and seminars in front of entertainment industry insiders and agents. At the end of the week, contestants are called back by the agents and managers to discuss possible future representation.

Alumni

• Katie Holmes
  Katie Holmes
  Katherine Noelle "Katie" Holmes is an American actress who first achieved fame for her role as Joey Potter on The WB television teen drama Dawson's Creek from 1998 to 2003. Her movie roles have included the blockbuster Batman Begins along with art house films such as The Ice Storm and thrillers...
  
  
• Elijah Wood
  Elijah Wood
  Elijah Jordan Wood is an American actor. He made his film debut with a minor part in Back to the Future Part II , then landed a succession of larger roles that made him a critically acclaimed child actor by age 9. He is best known for his high-profile role as Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson's...
  
  
• Ashton Kutcher
  Ashton Kutcher
  Christopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
  
  
• Eva Longoria
  Eva Longoria
  Eva Jacqueline Longoria is an American actress, best known for portraying Gabrielle Solis on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives...
  
  
• Jessica Biel
  Jessica Biel
  Jessica Claire Biel is an American actress, model, and occasional singer. Biel is known for her television role as Mary Camden in the long-running family-drama series 7th Heaven...
  
  
• Seann William Scott
  Seann William Scott
  Seann William Scott is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing Steve Stifler in the American Pie film series...
  
  
• Brandon Routh
  Brandon Routh
  Brandon James Routh is an American actor and former fashion model. He grew up in Iowa before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, and subsequently appeared on multiple television series throughout the early 2000s. In 2006, he gained greater recognition for his role as the titular hero...
  
  
• Alyson Stoner
  Alyson Stoner
  Alyson Rae Stoner is an American actress, dancer and singer. Stoner is known for her roles in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody , Cheaper By The Dozen and Cheaper By The Dozen 2 , Step Up and Step Up 3 , and Camp Rock and Camp Rock 2...
  
  
• Moises Arias
• Josh Duhamel
  Josh Duhamel
  Joshua David "Josh" Duhamel is an American actor and former fashion model. He first achieved acting success in 1999 as Leo du Pres on ABC's All My Children and later as the chief of security, Danny McCoy, on NBC's Las Vegas...
  
  
• Ashley Greene
  Ashley Greene
  Ashley Michele Greene is an American actress and model, best known for playing Alice Cullen in the film adaptations of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight novels.- Personal life :...
  
  
• Jessica White
  Jessica White
  Jessica White is an American model and occasional actress and DJ.-Career:At the age of 16, White was scouted in her hometown of Buffalo, New York, and had gone to Personal Best modeling school at age sixteen...
  
  
• Branden Rickman
  Branden Rickman
  Branden Rickman is an American fashion model. Raised in Central Point, Oregon, he is perhaps best known as the winner of Make Me a Supermodel, Season 2.- Early life :...
  
  
• Bradley Tomberlin
• Sara Dawson
• Kim Lemanton
• Sean Harju
• Tyson Ballou
  Tyson Ballou
  Tyson Brett Ballou is a male model. Discovered by the modeling agency, Page Parkes, he has become one of the industry's most sought-after male models.-Career:...
  
  
• Haley Bennett
  Haley Bennett
  Haley Bennett is an American singer and actress.She will star in the new FX series Outlaw Country with Luke Grimes and Mary Steenburgen.-Life and career:...
  
  
• Ross Kelly
• Sharon Case
  Sharon Case
  Sharon Case is an American actress. She is known for her roles on daytime television soap operas. Her most well-known role has been on CBS Daytime Television's The Young and the Restless. She has portrayed the role of Sharon Newman since August 1994...
  
  
• Dennis Gibbs - 1990 Male Talent of the Year

Sources

• http://www.beseeninhollywood.com/2009/01/international-modeling-and-talent-association-convention-2009-imta/
• http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100113/LIFE/1130324/-1/caucusright/Johnston-native-lands-Project-Runway-modeling-gig
• http://www.nowpublic.com/style/international-modeling-and-talent-association-convention-imta