Aboriginal model Samantha Harris has created a major stir on the Australian Fashion Week runway. The stunning beauty, who transformed herself from a beauty pageant hopeful into a Vogue Australia covergirl, has emerged as the essential drawcard at Fashion Week, which kicked off in Sydney on Monday 3 May 2010.
At just 19, Samantha appeared for 18 designers including Lisa Ho, Camilla, Dion Lee, Rachel Gilbert and Alex Perry. That the fashion world is smitten with her was clear, with Australia's leading designers engaging the smoulderingly beautiful teenager, with her almond eyes and bee-stung lips, to open their shows. She proved herself a fast-rising star by landing a Vogue Australia cover, 17 years after the magazine last featured an Aboriginal model, Elaine George in 1993, in the coveted spot.
But she is no overnight success story. Samantha started modeling when she was 13 and had worked her way up before Vogue Editor-In-Chief Kristie Clements felt she had the maturity to be the face of the fashion bible’s June issue.
The glitz and glamour are far removed from the Queensland housing estate where Samantha grew up and the childhood beauty pageants where she wore outfits that her mother found in charity shops.
Apparently unfazed by the buzz surrounding her at Australian Fashion Week, where she was declared the topmodel, Samantha told local media she hoped to reach the pinnacle of the Fahion World. “I spent my childhood wondering why you had to have blonde hair and blue eyes to do well in modeling competitions, so I am proud that a girl with my looks might make it,” she said.
Samples from Samantha’s Portfolio Work:
Height: 5’ 10.5” - 178cm I Bust: 33 I Waist: 24” - 61cm I Hips: 35’ - 89cm I Shoes: 9½ I Dress: 8 I Eye Colour: Brown I Hair Colour: Brown
Other Catwalk Groundbreakers:
Naomi Sims
The first black supermodel, Naomi appeared on the cover of Ladies' Home Journal in 1968, paving the way for such names as Beverly Johnson, the first black cover girl for Vogue and Naomi Campbell.
Crystal Renn
Fluctuating between dress sizes 14 and 16, Renn's appearances on Mark Fast's catwalk at London Fashion Week this year raised eyebrows in the weight obsessed industry. The best-paid plus-size supermodel.
Alek Wek
Born to Sudanese Dinka tribe, Wek and her family fled for Britain during the Civil War in 1993. Discovered by Models One whilst shopping, Alek has spoken out against racism in the industry, as when she was photographed as "coffee" in a giant espresso cup.
Kate Moss
Kate's unusually petite stature 5'7" caused controversy when she rose to fame in the early 1990s. Now dubbed the world's most famous model by Vogue.
Photo credits: www.chicmanagement.com.au and www.elle.com and peter lindbergh
