You just may have seen Zoe Damacela‘s face before — on The Tyra Show years ago, but now she’s just one of five girls vying for the October 2011 cover of Seventeen mag.

The 19-year-old Chicago native was once-upon-a-time homeless before turning her passion for fashion into her life.

Zoe says, “Growing up, I never fit in. My family didn’t have money, and I had medical issues, so I got made fun of for wearing an eye patch, a scoliosis brace, and hand-me-downs. But here I was, designing clothe —finally getting the respect I’d always wanted!”

Judged by Seventeen‘s Editor-in-Chief Ann Shocket, Miranda Cosgrove, and Jared Eng, the MTV-televised special will air Tuesday, August 30th @ 8PM ET/PT.

Bigger pic inside…