Modeling Journey

Next Model's Sofya Titova is my pick to be modelling's next big thing. Judging by these test shots, the seventeen year old Russian newcomer has an stunning future ahead of her. The 177 cm tall beauty possesses a physique ready-made for the runway. Blessed with a wonderfully long torso and gazelle-like limbs, this beguiling beauty has already appeared in L'Officiel magazine and Russian Vogue. Miuccia Prada has Titova firmly in her sight, having featured the flaxen haired, blue-eyed ingenue in Prada's Resort 2012 collection. You can be guaranteed that Titova will be a strong contender at the Spring/Summer shows come September. Watch this face...

Australia's latest modelling sensation Rose Smith appears in an alluring French Numero editorial lensed by photographer Anthony Maule. The series of black and white portraits feature a super elegant looking Smith in the latest finery from Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Lanvin, Alexander McQueen, Givenchy and Maison Martin Margiela. Smith is part of the wave of Aussie newcomers to have made an indelible impression at the recent Fall/Winter 2011 shows in February. Represented by Next Model Management in New York, Smith possesses gazelle-like proportions and an exquisitely delicate beauty paired with a level-headed maturity. I'm hoping that with her refined and ever so slightly off-kilter looks, that Smith will continue to lead the Aussie onslaught at the upcoming shows in September. 

Canadian Yasmeen Ghauri was part of a select group of models in the early nineties who dominated the fashion scene. Born in Montreal, Quebec, a then seventeen year old Ghauri was discovered by hairdresser Edward Zacharia whilst working at a McDonald's eatery. Ghauri's distinct, exotic looks were the product of her Pakistani and German lineage. Ghauri's father, a Muslim cleric in Quebec's Muslim community, was staunchly opposed to Ghauri's modelling aspirations. Under the guidance of Zacharia and salon owner Joseph Del Tortoon, Ghauri was encouraged to pursue modelling in spite of her parent's initial disapproval.

Ghauri's bi-racial features were in sync with a shift in the fashion industry towards models with distinctively ethnic looks. The modelling industry was on the look out for new faces which went against the grain of the ubiquitous All-American, blonde-haired, blue-eyed look of the Eighties. Ghauri, along with Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Tatjana Patitz, and Linda Evangelista represented this very shift in aesthetics within the modelling world. 

Within a year of being discovered, Ghauri had moved to New York where she was represented by Next Models and quickly became the darling of the fashion set. Ghauri's exaggerated runway swagger and curvaceous, sleek body earned her the title of "the panther" and she became a firm favourite of designers Gianni Versace, Karl Largerfeld and Azzedine Alaia. Blessed with exquisite, exotic features, dark brown eyes and caramel coloured skin, Ghauri's distinct looks were celebrated by photographers Patrick Demarchelier, Hans Feurer, Pamela Hanson, Steven Meisel, Peter Lindbergh and Albert Watson.

In January 1990, Ghauri landed her first major cover for Elle magazine and soon became a staple model for high fashion publications US Vogue, US Harpers Bazaar, Paris Vogue and Vogue Italia. Throughout her modelling career, Ghauri fronted highly sought-after campaigns for Versace, Chanel, Jil Sander, Hermes, Christian Dior, Anne Klein, Lanvin, Valentino and Victoria's Secret, thereby proving that ethnic models could indeed hold international, commercial appeal.

In 1997, at the height of her success, Ghauri retired from modelling to pursue a degree in business. Ghauri is one of the few supermodels of her generation to turn her back entirely on the modelling set. Ghauri is now the mother of  a daughter named Maya and has not ventured onto a catwalk since her retreat from the heady world of modelling. For me, Ghauri represented the very ideal of a global beauty that was all-embracing, and her incredible physique and exquisite beauty remain unparalleled to this day.

Polish newcomer Zuzanna Bijoch has made an indelible impact at the Fall/Winter 2011 collections, walking in select blue chip shows for Jason Wu, Diane Von Furstendburg, Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Proenza Schouler, Gucci, Prada, Versace and Emilio Pucci. The 174 cm tall, chestnut brown haired beauty with hypnotic blue/green eyes, was discovered at the age of 13 years in the D'Vision Model Management competition. Now aged 17 years and represented by Next Models in New York, Bijoch is a star on the ascent, appearing alongside Arizona Muse and Kinga Rajzak in the current Spring/Summer 2011 Prada campaign lensed by Steven Meisel.

In an industry that is saturated with beautiful girls, twenty year old Harris' exotic looks, soft doe eyed features and bee stung lips set her apart from the pack. Harris' striking features are the product of a hybrid mix of Aboriginal and German lineage. In an interview with the National, Harris acknowledges that her Indigenous background adds to her allure, "It gives me an advantage, there is no one else around who looks like me."

In June 2010, Harris made the cover of Australian Vogue, making her only the second Aboriginal model to appear on the cover since Elaine George's appearance in 1993. In an interview with the National, Australian Vogue Editor Kirstie Clements, insists that the decision to put Harris on the cover was not politically motivated, "Samantha is just extraordinary, and it's a happy and wonderful coincidence that she's indigenous."

Chic agent, Kathy Ward has carefully nurtured and navigated Harris' path through the modelling world. In 2006, Harris scored a major coup when she was flown to New York to be photographed by Patrick Demarchelier for Glamour magazine. Speaking with ninemsn.com, Ward recalls how following the plum assignment, Next Models were keen for Harris to take on more international bookings. Ward at the time however was adamant, "She's not ready, she's not mature enough yet and she just wouldn't cope being out there on her own, so it's not negotiable until she finishes school. But there's no doubt, the opportunities for Samantha will be endless, she's on the radar, she's out there." Ward adds that "There's absolutely no urgency, confidence is vital. If that means waiting another season and a half to launch a girl, we'll do it. You only get one chance when you meet the big names so we're prepared to invest the time to develop a girl."

For a model who has not been officially launched on the international modelling circuit, Harris has garnered significant support and interest. Photographers adore her; Robert Erdmann calls her, "the most ravishing thing that I know of" and David Bailey predicts a great future for her, "She has a real innocence in how she works that's very unaffected. She doesn't pose; she's very open and natural, which is great." Clements who has become one of Harris' most ardent supporters, having made her one of Australian Vogue's staple models, adds that "She has a quiet elegance that sets her apart, she's top drawer."

In the last 12 months, Harris has evolved into a truly versatile model, capable of conveying a broad range of editorial and runway looks.  I am hoping that 2011 is the year that Harris makes her mark on an international scale at the Fall/Winter shows in February. In an interview with the Sun Herald, Harris says, "I'll definitely go to New York some time in the future, which will be exciting and hopefully they will love me over there." I have no doubt that Harris would thrive in New York and yes, they will love her over there as much as we do.