Christina Fulham from Niagara Falls, auditions to be a briefcase model during an open casting call for Deal or No Deal Canada at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. (ERNEST DOROSZUK, SUN)

The Deal Or No Deal model search attracted everyone from the reigning Miss Universe Canada to, well, a dude.

It was a jaw-dropping scene at the Royal York Hotel yesterday, as more than 500 aspiring models showed up. All were vying for a spot on the five-episode Canadian edition of comedian Howie Mandel's game show, which will debut on Global after the Super Bowl Feb. 4.

Among the applicants was stunning Alice Panikian, who certainly got the judges' attention when she introduced herself as the current Miss Universe Canada.

"I've had some experience on stage but I was surprisingly nervous," Panikian said after her initial audition, which involved walking with a model-esque strut, smiling, posing and opening a briefcase, the latter function being the models' main responsibility on the show.

The models were brought before the judges six at a time, and as fate would have it, Panikian was in the same group as a gutsy 33-year-old man named Tim Boyle, who was wearing a custom-made "male or no male" T-shirt.

"I was too late getting my application in to be a contestant, so when I saw this I thought, 'I can be a briefcase beauty,' " Boyle said. "The inspiration? Well, I don't know if you remember Mork & Mindy, but way back then Mork tried out for the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders in one episode and got the job."

Boyle wasn't as fortunate as Mork, however. Whereas Panikian got a callback for a second audition yesterday afternoon, Boyle did not.

A total of 26 models will appear on the Canadian episodes of Deal Or No Deal, 21 of whom have been cast privately. One model from each of Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver will be selected.

The five winning models will be announced on Jan. 22.