I was honoured to be invited to sit on the judges panel at the Taree regional event of the 2016 Aboriginal Model Search, on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales.
Aboriginal Model Search is a contest in its inaugural year, looking for Australia’s next top Aboriginal Supermodel across Queensland, NSW and Victoria. They welcome male and female models; petite models, plus-size models, of any age, size or height.
Sitting on the judges panel at the Aboriginal Model Search. Photo by Aboriginal Model Search
Sharlette Jane (pictured above on the right), founder of the Aboriginal Model Search is a member of the Kamilaroi tribe centred in Central-Western NSW. She has done an incredible job to organise this mammoth event.
Posing with the winners – Kalahani, me and Taylor
I arrived in Taree to find the models backstage, rehearsing for the show. The contestants had been working hard all afternoon, with a schedule designed to build their confidence and skills. They were trained in public speaking and runway, followed by a photo shoot.
When the evening began, you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as I watched the guys and girls take to the stage. For many of them, it was the first time they’d taken part in public speaking, let alone walked the catwalk and posed in front of a packed out auditorium.
The other judges and I found it to be a truly tight competition. After much discussion we decided that Taylor and Kalahani were the winners. The two girls, along with five wildcards will be heading off to compete in a National Final in Sydney.
I’m looking forward to following The Search as it travels the east coast.
Me with the winners standing by the Indii campaign posters I photographed with Aboriginal model, Jemma Button. Photo by Aboriginal Model Search
To see more of my photos from the Indii swimmer shoot, click here. Thanks for visiting 🙂
