The Effingham County Board of Education recognized Alison Cintron, a student at South Effingham High School, at its board meeting Thursday night.

Superintendent Randy Shearouse said that she was like most other 14-year-old girls when she started at SEHS last year.

“In her own words, she didn’t think she was pretty, and she thought she was disgustingly skinny,” he said.

A friend suggested Cintron attend an open audition for a modeling agency in Savannah. So, Shearouse said, she “went from being a model student to a fashion model with a very bright future ahead of her.”

Shearouse said Cintron felt uncomfortable in high heels in her first attempt.

“It didn’t take Alison long to realize that she loved being in front of a camera and having her picture taken,” he said.

Cintron loves to model on the runway and wants to make that her future career, Shearouse said. Her mom insists that she finish high school.
Modeling is fun, but it’s also hard work, according to Cintron.

“In order to fit into the very, very small clothes models must wear she has to work out regularly and watch what she eats,” Shearouse said, “which she says is the hardest part because she loves to eat, especially anything chocolate.”

Cintron has attended Effingham County schools since pre-kindergarten and has always been a Mustang, Shearouse said.

Shearouse said Cintron was a “model Mustang” and wished her continued success in her pursuit of a professional modeling career.