If you’ve ever dreamed of slaying the runway, starring in a commercial or being scouted by major modeling agencies, let us introduce you to our favorite vogue visa, Barbizon Passport to Discovery (PTD). This one-of-a-kind event in Orlando, Florida combines competitions, seminars, callbacks and community into your go-to industry launchpad. Just ask 17-year-old Barbizon modeling student Sydney Spitzer—this year’s Girls’ Life PTD Top Model.
In the spotlight
Picture it: bright lights on the stage, models in their best looks, talent agents from across the country watching from the front row. Add in seminars about anything from nailing the callback interview to mastering your walk (plus the magic of Disney days with your new besties) and it’s clear why PTD is such a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
For Sydney, though, the best part wasn’t the spotlight—it was the people. “Everyone was so positive and supportive—that’s the first thing I tell people about Barbizon,” she shares.
Between workshops, competitions and even late-night hangs with new friends, contestants are building friendships that last long after the event ends. Sydney is still in a group chat with her PTD besties, sharing updates on everything from starting college to signing with their first agencies and landing their professional modeling gigs. “It feels like family,” she reveals.
Runway to real-world confidence
For Sydney, PTD wasn’t just about the clothes or the competition—it was the chance to show herself just how far she’d come. “For the first time, I felt really comfortable and proud of myself,” she explains. “It was such a full-circle moment.”
Sydney’s favorite event? The runway. And what did she do right before strutting into the spotlight? Sydney says she FaceTimed her younger sister. “I called to her to show my outfit, and she told me I looked great,” Sydney laughs. “Somehow, that made me feel calm. It was this reminder that life at home was still normal, even while I was doing something so big.”
Beyond the stage
PTD isn’t just about what happens under the bright lights. After long days of competitions, Sydney and her new friends celebrated with dinners (including a big group escapade to nearby Disney Springs), late-night lobby snack runs and tons of lounging by the pool.
There were adventures outside the hotel, too: Sydney snagged an afternoon trip to Hollywood Studios and tackled the Tower of Terror (where she actually got her callbacks email mid-ride!) .“Those little moments were just as special as the competitions,” Sydney says. “They made the whole week feel like a celebration.”
Big wins + bigger dreams
Sydney left PTD with 19+ callbacks from agencies, multiple awards and ofc, her Girls’ Life Top Model title. And with the experience under her belt, she’s got a few words of advice for the aspiring models out there.
“Stay true to yourself and remember that your worth isn’t defined by wins or losses,” she says. “The right opportunities—and the right people—will find you.”
