Cape Girardeau teenager Kelly Russell has advanced to the regional semi-finalists category in the Teen magazine's Great Model Search.

Her photograph appears in the January issue of the magazine. She is vying for the title of the Model Discovery of the Year for Teen magazine.

Russell hopes to advance to the "super semifinalist" level of the contest and then to be selected as one of 12 national finalists.

As a regional semi-finalist, Russell was requested to submit 10 additional photographs for consideration. She also won a selection of beauty products.

The 12 national finalists will receive expense-paid trips to Los Angeles. All 12 finalists will be featured in Teen magazine. The winner will be featured on the cover.

The winner also receives a $5,000 cash award and an appearance in a national Mabeline advertisement.

Russell is an A-honor roll sophomore at Central High School and is involved with the varsity tennis team, pompon squad, choir, Beta Club and Red Dagger, the drama organization at Central. She is also a member of the local JCPenney store teen modeling board.

Russell has participated in another Teen magazine modeling competition, the Teen Super Face Contest, in which she placed first on the national level in the profile category.