Title Name

I am a model living in New York City. My career has been a transformative journey. I started modelling in New Zealand, and I guess I proactively sought it out. When I was young my friends had always told me that I “could be a model if I lost weight”—which I always thought was strange—so I had always had it in the back of my mind. And I was obsessed with America’s Next Top Model. One day, my dad brought me a newspaper article about a local modelling agency and encouraged me to speak with them. I think it was the day before my birthday, or it may well have been my actual birthday—my Mum and I went to meet them and I was offered a contract on the spot. I was only 16, but I was always told I was an old soul, and I felt I could handle it.

After five months, I dropped out of high school to move to Sydney and pursue modelling full-time. I began building my career which eventually led to me being signed in New York, where I quickly booked a Prada exclusive (I think it was the Men’s show). I worked between New York, London, and Europe until 2015, when the pressure to maintain the required measurements took a toll. My body just couldn’t handle it. At 19, I moved back to New Zealand for a break, initially on the direction to recenter and lose weight. But what began as a physical reset became a journey in growing my mental strength.

Instead, during my time away, I focused on therapy and rebuilding my sense of self outside of my appearance. I learned that my worth wasn’t tied to my body or external validation. I had a functioning brain, dreams, and desires, and I came to know that I could achieve those things. In 2017 I returned to the industry, encouraged by my friend Ngahuia Williams, who fostered me into her world and her own agency. Soon, I was ready to head back to New York.

Early in my career, I faced obscene scrutiny from the media—headlines such as “chubby duckling turns to model swan” weren’t uncommon. Growing up in the early 2000s was just different and I felt out of place for being larger and was made to think shrinking was the only answer. Over time, I came to embrace my body, and the word “curve” is now something I’m proud of as it reflects my journey to a healthier mental state.
Now I model because I love the work and the opportunity to connect with creatives and artists, and be a part of the creative process. My career has led me to incredible opportunities including: Savage X Fenty, Valentino, Marina Rinaldi, and Vogue Ukraine. It has been a transformative re-entry into the modelling world. I have had to love and back myself, and push for more diversity and inclusion.