Just another day on the job: Vegas' top models, from left, Amber Nichole, Kate Holster, Christina Virzi and John Stallings strike a pose. Photos by Christine H. Wetzel. On her day off, Christina Virzi strolls The District with her pit bull and does a little shopping. Before John Stallings was an aspiring model, he tried his hand at dancing. Stallings passes time surfing his Web site, Johncstallings.com. Kate Holster spends her nights watching her boyfriend's band, Acoustic Soul. A six-figure modeling career can get a you pool and a purebred dog. Amber Nichole comes separately. Are the fans there for Kate or the music? Maybe a little of both. Amber Nichole, Las Vegas' superest of supermodels.

Whether it's by their faces, significant others or scandals of the moment, supermodels like Gisele, Kate and Naomi are internationally known. But what about Vegas' "super models"; the ones who grace the billboards, host the in-house casino videos and decorate the pages of local glossies?

Who are they and how did they get where they are?

Here are a few of their stories ...

THE CHOSEN ONE

You know who she is. She greets you on the freeway on your way to work, lures you into the Treasure Island parking garage and has you craving something sweet and juicy every time you see her.

Christina Virzi -- the Tangerine Girl -- is all over Vegas and has been since the burlesque nightclub opened two years ago. Apparently, you haven't gotten sick of her yet and who would? With her ruffled panties, fishnet stockings and pom-pom bra, she's a sight to see.

"It's definitely the most recognizable (modeling job) I've had," Virzi said of her Tangerine ads.

The pouty, blonde 23-year-old virtually owes her career's success to the aforementioned Tangerine and a Big Mac. She was discovered in the McDonalds at Meadows mall when she was just 15.

Daniel Mahay, owner of Envy Model & Talent, spotted Virzi and saw the same thing an agent once did in Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and the rest of them. Soon after, Virzi had her first job, a campaign with Kickwear. One week later, she was signed with Next Modeling Agency out of Los Angeles.

At an age where most girls her age are making their first foray into the real world, Virzi has eight years' experience under her 25-inch belt.

"I dropped out of high school (to model), went to New York, Milan and traveled all over," she said.

She got into the game young and admits it meant "missing out on opportunities" because she "was too young to know what was going on" but still wouldn't trade it for a thing. "I love it," she said. "I got spoiled at a young age and I've loved it since."

THE LITTLE MODEL THAT COULD

For those who don't get discovered and take off before their voices change, their relationship with the industry can be a lot like Sienna and Jude: on again, off again.

John Stallings and modeling are currently on good terms but he knows that could change (for better or worse) any day now. Even so, he won't let his heart stray from the sometimes brutal industry.

"I have to follow my passions full-force," said the 26-year-old.

Stallings, originally from Sandy, Utah, holds a Bachelor's degree in marketing from the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, but don't let the credentials fool you.

"I don't have a Bachelor's degree to have something to 'fall back on,' " he said. "I have it because it was instilled in me to get a degree, find a job, cash out my 401k and die. But that's not me."

What is him? See for yourself on "The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency," where Stallings joins the rest of the self-proclaimed "first American supermodel's" clan of fledglings in a quest to be the next "it" boy or girl.

Until that actually happens, the former dancer is still walking amongst the rest of us. In fact, he might be the guy who concocted your tall frapuccino this morning. To make ends meet, Stallings serves 'em up daily at Starbucks.

"You have to understand self-sufficiency," he said. "Right now I'm just trying to get myself recognized."

It won't be long before that happens right here. Look for Stallings in an upcoming advertising campaign for the Palms' new Fantasy Towers.

THE LUCKY BEGINNER

Five months ago, Kate Holster decided she'd try out this modeling thing. You know, just to see what came of it. The same way a tourist drops a quarter into a slot machine before checking out.

And, Holster has been collecting on her "bet" ever since.

"If anything it's better," Holster said of what she expected the industry to be like. "Going into it I wasn't expecting much. I thought there was no way I could get a full-time job out of this."

Standing 5 feet and 11 inches tall, and clearly easy on the eyes, Holster was repeatedly told while growing up that she should pursue modeling. Taking the comments the same way the tall guy does the basketball suggestions, Holster didn't think much of it. Then a photographer approached her in Massachusetts. A man with a camera around his neck who would like to put you in his portfolio is much different than your best friend telling you you're just as pretty as those girls in the magazines. "That's when I took it seriously," she recalled.

And it took her seriously too. She's since been chosen for the Panorama Towers ads, a "big poster for Paris" and a fashion spread in one of the casino's in-house glossies. Not too shabby.

"(Agencies have) told me many times, 'We don't call everyone ten times a day like we call you,' " Holster said. "I know this isn't normal. I know I have it really good right now."

THE SUPER MODEL

Her flawless face and bangin' body have been on so many billboards around town, you probably feel as well-acquainted with Amber Nichole as you are the I-15. One of the more conspicuous ads she's appeared in (and still runs today) was for the MGM Renaissance Towers in which a team of men are carrying a couch on their shoulders upon which Amber Nichole is lounging. All that's missing are the grapes and fans.

It's much like her status as a model here in Vegas. Amber Nichole is the most asked for, coveted, waited upon model there is in town. Why else do you think she can get away with going by just her first and middle names?

But things weren't always this way. There was a time she was at the bottom of the totem pole with the rest of the pretty, but not pretty enough, faces. A time when last names were still necessary.

"It was very slow-going the first four years," she said. So slow-going, Amber Nichole thought modeling in Vegas meant working conventions and other low glamour jobs for equally low pay. It wasn't until she decided to shop around for agencies that she discovered otherwise.

"The last three and a half years have been steady," she said.

Exactly how steady? "When I'm really working hard, kicking my own butt, I'm making around $100,000."

Realizing the clock could start ticking on her modeling career, Amber Nichole now has a management team helping her secure work in Los Angeles, both for modeling and acting.

Who knows, if things go really well, she could very well drop the Nichole and simply go by Amber.