Model citizens: Local competitors making us look good

There’s nothing like checking your inbox in the neuroscience department and finding a photo of Zoolander.

Colin, a Charlottesville resident who’ll be among 16 men and women vying for the “Make Me a Supermodel” prize this season, happily took the ribbing from his friends in the lab at the University of Virginia.

“People in the lab I work in at UVa thought it was hilarious,” Colin said.

The new season gets under way at 10 p.m. Wednesday on Bravo. Colin, 21, will be competing for a $100,0000 prize, a modeling contract and a Cosmopolitan fashion pictorial.

Colin, who is studying psychology and neuroscience at Carleton College in Minnesota, plans to go to medical school, but first he’ll make the rounds of the reality competition show’s runways.

“It was fascinating to see how a reality show is made in person,” Colin said. “I watch a lot of reality TV. It’s always an escape — only it’s not an escape anymore.”

He will have to escape from the lab to watch, however.

“I don’t have a TV here at school,” Colin said, but “I’m definitely going to watch the show when it’s on.

“I’m wondering whether I’m going to watch the show with friends or whether I’m going to ride out the hour in my room alone with my cell phone off.”

“The interest in modeling has been in the back of my mind,” he said. “I was always wondering how much of an advantage versus a detriment my lack of experience could be.”

So could modeling help him with his medical school dreams? He might become “the next Sanjay Gupta,” he said with a chuckle. In the meantime, it might help hone poise for those crucial medical school interviews.

“At the same time, it’s going to be weird having some idea of me precede me walking into an interview,” he said.