It was a very glamorous audition meant to uncover model talents to be cast in the upcoming Audi Fashion Festival, but Singapore's first open model casting call that was held last Wednesday has attracted some naysayers who cried foul about its proceedings.

At least one owner of local modelling agency, Mr Kirk Hsu, 30, who attended the casting call at Clarke Quay with eight of his Singaporean models, were rejected at the entrance. He owns Perspectives Models.

He told The Straits Times: "“The models who went for the casting call fit the stated height requirement of 1.75m for women and 1.8m for men but they were not allowed to go for the casting.

“Anyone could see that most of the models who were allowed were Caucasians and foreigners.”

According to The Straits Times report, the casting party consisted of two parts – a street casting for newbies and amateur models, and a casting for professional models signed on with modelling agencies. Only models who belonged to the accredited model agencies are allowed to take part in the segment for professional models. These agencies include Ave, Carrie, Mannequin and Upfront.

Ms Tjin Lee, managing director of events company Mercury Marketing & Communications, which is organising the festival, was quoted in the same report as saying that while the street casting was open to anybody who fit the height requirement, the casting for professional models was open only to models from seven top modelling agencies in Singapore who represent catwalk models.

After the party, Mr Hsu and other disgruntled individuals, including rejected models, posted comments on the festival’s Facebook page, accusing the organisers of discriminating against local models. Their posts have since been taken down by the festival's organisers.

Others, such as freelance photographer Kwok Tuck Loong, 36, have started Facebook pages that allow members to post their grievances. Mr Kwok's page, Official Movement to support/pay Singaporean models/ Photographers for AFF has attracted multiple comments.

An official statement was released on Tuesday afternoon which states the festival committee’s belief that in order to build a world-class festival that attracts top designers, they need to provide world-class talent in the form of models, photographers and crew. All talent is judged on merit, not on race or nationality.

The statement also says the committee will be inviting those who have expressed their unhappiness with the event to a private dialogue, to better understand their complaints and arrive at an amicable solution.

>> See the casting party photos here!