Publisher Harper Collins publishes Carol’s latest book

Featuring the gorgeous young beauty Rianna Hardesty (a University of Wisconsin co-ed selected by Carol Alt and a teeming audience of online fans in an open-sourcing cover design contest) on the cover, MODEL, INCORPORATED continues the saga of Carol’s alter ego, Mac, as she continues to claw her way to the top of the modeling industry – and discovers just what it takes to remain the reigning queen of the catwalk.

Alt is a dedicated mentor to aspiring models, and uses her books as platforms to help young women succeed – and survive – in this demanding arena. “Much of what I write about within these pages happened to me, or to other young women who rose through the ranks with me. I hope that This Year’s Model and Model, Incorporated will help give a healthy awareness of what it really takes to make it big…what really goes on certainly isn’t covered in today’s highly-glossed reality TV platforms.”

Keeping an eye towards nurturing future talent, supermodel Alt launched a contest in 2008 to put a face to Model, Incorporated covergirl ”Mac” discovered a truly fresh new face: young university student Rianna Hardesty won an online competition engineered by the author, in conjunction with her publisher and the fashionable retailer Lord & Taylor, and her gorgeous visage graces the cover of Model, Incorporated.

This Year’s Model introduced readers to Melody Ann Croft, a stunningly beautiful young woman who is discovered by a well-known fashion photographer while waiting tables in Morristown, NJ to make money for college. Now, in MODEL, INCORPORATED, Melody—rechristened Mac Croft by her agent—wants to take her career to the next level. But is she prepared to make the sacrifices this cutthroat business demands?

Mac is a small town girl with a level head and a loving family; so far, she’s kept herself well- grounded enough to avoid the pitfalls and temptations of the fashion industry. But after getting a sweet taste of success (glam gigs, flying around the world first class and staying in five-star hotels) — her attitudes and priorities are changing.

Modeling was supposed to be a short detour on her way to college; now it’s hard to imagine trading a life of catwalks and cameras for one of lectures and books. Making it to the top, though, requires a punishing routine of racing around Manhattan for go-sees and photo shoots, not to mention demoralizing rejection and the outright hostility of a certain Chanel-clad executive. Meanwhile, the pressure to be stick-thin leads Mac into some dangerous habits.

Filled with wit, warmth and plenty of fabulous designer labels, Alt’s second novel will make readers fall even deeper for Mac, as she tries to keep it real in a business built on fantasy.

Some photos from Rianna’s photo shoot