You saw them here first
It’s said that when the the dress is bad, people remember the dress. When the dress is good, however, they remember the wearer. With that in mind, we asked five of the best New Zealand modelling agencies to share their top five faces and names to know this NZFW.
If a new season Deadly Ponies handbag or perennial front-row seats aren’t your NZFW flex, then perhaps your encyclopaedic knowledge of Aotearoa’s next generation of models could be.
Sophie Lincoln, Red Eleven
16; 180.5cm; F; NZ/European
“Sophie is a Year 12 student at Glendowie College with an interest in health and a personal passion for fashion, painting and catching up with friends. Sophie has a great imagination, give her any two random words and she can create any story from them – just ask her about the Weregoat! Sophie has been with us since she was 13 years old, slowly developing as a model and is definitely one to watch. Shoots like a dream and is great on the runway.”
Follow Sophie at @sophie.linc0ln
Minnie Xu (Xiaomi Xu), Red Eleven
25; 177cm; F; Chinese
“In the world of modeling, I’ve been weaving my way to find my own unique path, like a catwalk detective. From runway chameleon to any role, I’m a fashion adventurer unbound by limitations!” says Minnie, a Chinese model with five years of work experience. Says her agents, Red Eleven: “Minnie has hit the ground running with her modelling and has being doing amazing! From editorial to campaign work, Minnie is killing it.”
Follow Minnie at @masterpiece_mini
Karlow Aramoana, Red Eleven
18; 186cm; M; Māori/European
A model from the Bay Of Plenty (Ohope), with a small business detailing and cleaning vehicles, Karlow is passionate about the creative arts. “I love to be both in front of and behind the camera,” he says. “Fun fact about me (though potentially controversial), I thoroughly enjoy pineapple on a pizza.”
“Karlow has been with us for just over a year and has a bright future in this industry,” says Red Eleven.
Follow Karlow at @karlowwmagic
Lisa Fatnowna, Red Eleven
23; 176cm; F; Australian Aborigine (Kuku Yalanji) and Torres Strait Islander (Moa and Ugar Island)
Before starting her modelling career, Lisa worked with disadvantaged indigenous youth in her hometown of Cairns, and she stays endlessly active: “I’m very sporty. I played hockey for the Australian Countryside, travelling to Malaysia, and I recently switched to AFL,” she says.
“Lisa is an amazing international here currently,” says Red Eleven. “We’ve had a great response from clients and are thrilled to rep her for NZFW.”
Follow Lisa at @lisa.fatnowa on Instagram and @lisafats on TikTok
Sammi Poole, Red Eleven
20; 173cm; F; South African
20 years old from South Africa, Samantha now live in Auckland where she has studied and worked as a model and content creator for the past three years. Says Sammi: “I was very shy growing up, but modelling gave me the confidence to be myself.” Her agents at Red Eleven are excited to see this confidence on the runway. “Sammi is a fantastic find for us and such a gem. She’s an amazing person and we can’t wait to see her walking at NZFW.”
Follow Sammi at @sammi.anni
Isla Cutts, SUPER mgmt
178cm; F; British-Irish
“Scouted only in March of this year, Isla has already hit the ground running, confirming multiple big jobs including a Benjamin Alexander show, and Karen Walker and Commercial Bay campaigns. She’s not just a tall, pretty face either – Isla’s an avid football player and a leading air cadet, training to be a glider pilot. With lots of international interest, the NZ born British-Irish model is one of Super’s top new faces to watch!”
Follow Isla at @islacutts
Malia Tomas, SUPER mgmt
Anysha Rees Webbe, SUPER mgmt
Grace Cox, SUPER mgmt
Tia Isabella Harris, 62 Management
23; 178cm; F; Māori (Ngāti Awa) and English
Tia, originally from the Bay of Plenty (Tauranga and Whakatāne,) enjoys the best of both worlds from the modelling industry as both a model and a booker at 62. She’s the proud owner of a three-legged cat who is blind in one eye, named Pacho. “She’s my pride and joy and probably the most interesting thing about me – that’s what my Instagram followers would say, anyway!”
Follow Tia at @Tizharris on Instagram and @tallandhot on TikTok
Ollie Burgess Gooch, 62 Management
20; 185cm; M; NZ European
A paramedical student originating from New Plymouth, Ollie has a particular knack for a very specific aspect of the fashion show experience: “I have an absolute obsession with the slip on socks used at fashion shows.”
Follow Ollie at @Olllegooch
Helena Jansen-Luke, 62 Management
21; 180cm; F; NZ European
Originally from Wellington, Helena is studying screen production in Auckland. She is terrified of flying but wants to travel the world.
Follow Helena at @helenajansenluke
Samuel Presland, 62 Management
18; 191cm; M; NZ European
“I’m outward looking and I love socialising,” says Samuel, who is part Italian. He also loves surfing and skiing. “The bigger the better! I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Follow Samuel at @samuel.presland on Instagram and @samuel.presland on TikTok
Mia, 62 Management
19; 178cm; F; NZ European/Danish
A full-time model, Mia manages to fit studying a Bcom in between her consistently booked out schedule, as well as taking pottery classes.
Follow Mia at @mia_scantlbury
Cindy, Belle Models
29; F; Korean
Chloe, Belle Models
44; F; European (Pākehā)
Keira, Belle Models
30; F; Scottish
Primarily a hairdressing model for 10+ years, Keira is back in the industry after a travel hiatus. Having shaved her head to raise money for Breast Cancer and the Mental Health Foundation, Keira is a creative who owns a small craft business.
“We are so excited to see her slay the runway, showing women all over that you can be non-traditional and get amazing opportunities,” says Belle Models. “Keira is definitely a model to watch because she continues to surprise and showcase her ability to mix things up – plus, she isn’t your standard 5’9″ height, either.”
Lana, Belle Models
30; F; European
“I recently fell in love with modeling and the way you can create a whole new version of yourself through artistic expression. I thoroughly enjoy working with passionate creatives and being their muse. My first ever photoshoot was at a friend’s house where she asked me to strip off and stand in a bush – still one of my favourite photos,” shares Lana.
Says Belle Models: “Lana is such a creative model, she will certainly keep you on your toes and deliver every time. She’s the model you want when you are keen to create art and try different things. Her ability to change as required is a huge bonus for anyone booking her for an opportunity.”
Brooke Houia, Belle Models
25; F; Māori/Pakeha
Model, beauty queen, ambassador, māma – Kanorau Diversity is in Brooke’s DNA. Brooke, who has two different coloured eyes (green and brown) is said to possess “a genuine ‘girl next door’ ambience and, combined with the height and stature of a seasoned supermodel, she shines like a diamond on the catwalk. Her ability to switch between high fashion, urban streetwear, couture to culture is a testament to the natural ability for modelling Brooke has been blessed with.”
Follow Brooke at @brookerachelhouia
Kala, Unique Model Management
20; 178cm; F; Japanese/NZ
A second year fine arts student at Elam, Kala has a quirky athletic background: she used to be a pole-vaulter and loves to ride the unicycle.
Follow Kala at @kala31189
Isaac Ieremia, Unique Model Management
19; 185cm; M; Samoan/NZ
“Issac is off to a fast start,” says his agent at Unique Model Management. “He’s been receiving requests for top acting and modelling roles straight from the get go!”
Follow Isaac at @isaac_ieremia on Instagram and @bigb0yisaa on TikTok
Kaarina Parker, Unique Model Management
29, 176cm; F; Māori/NZ European
Kaarina – a friend of FashioNZ and a feminist and body diversity influencer – is the author of a series of historical novels. She’s currently writing a novel about an Ancient Roman woman who becomes a gangster and politician. “She is the modern model: a muse, personality, a unique intelligent beauty,” says her agent.
Follow Kaarina at @kaarina.parker and @kaarinaparker on TikTok
Izzy Cowdell, Unique Model Management
18; 175cm; F; NZ European
Izzy has been signed by some of the modelling world’s preeminent off-shore agencies, including Priscillas in Australia and Premier in London. Her NZ agent notes that Izzy – who is training for her first marathon to raise funds for breast cancer research – is a “beautiful free spirit with the sweetest personality.”
Follow Izzy at @izzy.cowdell
Mia Coetzee, Unique Model Management
16, 178cm; F; South African
Mia moved from South Africa to New Zealand when she was 13 years old. Her favourite animal is a zebra, partially thanks to the fact that in South Africa, she had a family farm where she had a pet Zebra called Nugget.