More than 100 devoted fashionistas and curious onlookers braved the oppressive heat Saturday afternoon to attend the Street Glam Fashion Show on Ellsworth Drive, checking out the latest styles in comfortable street clothes and glamorous evening attire — all modeled by local talent.

While the show did feature special guests, including "Project Runway" designer Korto Momolu and former Redskins running back Brian Mitchell, the true stars of the event were the 33 models, all of whom were local residents selected during casting calls held on Ellsworth, according to Downtown Silver Spring Marketing Manager Lillian Buie.

"Our goal is to highlight our merchants, to highlight the fashion that we have right here in Downtown Silver Spring," she said. "Using local models was a part of that; we exposed them to the greater fashion community and maybe helped get them hooked up with some of our local designers."

Michael Momb, 22, of Fort Washington, remembers being stopped by casting representatives while hanging out on Ellsworth with his friends about a month ago. "My friend said ‘Mike you should try this, you're good at it,' and I said, ‘yeah, sure,' like, as a joke, but she put all my information down and made me do it," he said with a laugh. "I walked for the judges, and I was wearing just a plain T-shirt with ripped jeans, but they liked me and here I am."

Casting judges representing local businesses selected the models from more than 600 applicants and people pulled off the streets of Silver Spring, according to Buie, who spotted Meron Desta, 23, of Silver Spring during one of her weekly strolls in downtown and pulled her into an audition.

"I was kind of nervous, but when they called me I was so happy and excited," Desta said after walking the stage Saturday. "I had an amazing experience, and I'm looking forward to any opportunities I can get out of this, I was happy to meet so many photographers and designers here." Even as she spoke, a man holding a high-tech camera strolled up and casually passed her a card for a modeling and photography business that covered the event.

Featuring clothing and cosmetics from a variety of big-name clothing and beauty stores with chains in the area, including Men's Wearhouse, Ulta and New York & Company, the show also served as a promotional opportunity for smaller businesses and designers, including Kustom Looks Clothier, a small, minority-owner business that relocated to Silver Spring in January.

"Essentially, when we moved to Silver Spring, I suggested to Downtown Silver Spring that we have a fashion show that involved all of the businesses in the area," said Kustom Looks Vice President Everetta Edwards. "We had been involved in a similar show last year, but they didn't have as many local businesses [showcased]."

Del. Herman L. Taylor Jr. (D-Dist. 14) attended the event wearing a custom black-pinstripe suit designed by Kustom Looks in order to present Edwards and company President Kwab Asamoah with an official recognition from the House of Delegates thanking them for bringing their business to the county.

"It's about economic development," Taylor said of the show. "It's about giving a stage to these local designers to show off all their work … now our citizens who are pursuing their passions and their dreams in fashion don't have to travel to New York or L.A. or Europe. They can stay right here in Silver Spring."

As grand as the hopes are for the fashion show's impact on the local economy, many of the spectators viewed the event as another chance to enjoy the waning days of summer in the vibrant downtown community.

Darryl "Smokey D" Perry, who owns a nearby barbecue restaurant, came to the event to show his daughter, Darryl, the fancy dresses and elegant designs on display. "Can you see her?" He asked Darryl as he lifted her over the heads of onlookers to admire a particularly classy outfit. "Look, her in the white-and-black top, ain't that bad? She's smokin'!"