Celebrity "It Girls" are a vapid bunch (for ref. see: Paris Hilton, Heidi Montag, et al) more concerned with their fashion line than a bread line. They give 20-somethings a bad name, with their self-centered antics and spendthrift drama.

But it's wrong to tar all young women with the same brush. It turns out there are plenty of smart, dynamic and hardworking women out there, who have the natural style and flair that comes from being interested and involved in something besides your own sweet self! Enough to have a contest and pick the five most compelling!

To celebrate and reward these industrious under-25s, Ortho Women's Health & Urology™, the makers of ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN® LO, sponsored the It Girl Essentials contest, a nationwide search to find real-life It Girls who " embody confidence, reliability, poise and of course, a little bit of flair."
Five women were selected, and will be announced over the next few months. The first winner, Nicoletta Bumbac, is a 20 year old from Brooklyn, New York. Her "cause" is juvenile justice and children's rights. Already a world traveler, she's been to Costa Rica, Brazil, Japan, London and next up is Budapest. She's considering a graduate degree in International Human Rights law. And in addition all that, she's the co-organizer of the New York Gypsy Film festival.

As part of her prize, Nicoletta was invited to walk the Red Carpet and attend the Budget Fashionista Anniversary Event at Housing Works in Chelsea, where she met and mingled fashion celebrities Carson Kressley and the Budget Fashionista herself, Kathryn Finney.

See? Even at Fashion Week they recognize beauty that comes from the inside. Although, as usual, it doesn't hurt that Nicoletta's totally cute, too. It must be that "volunteer glow" you hear so much about!