By YASEMIN TALAT
Sanctuary Lakes resident Shanali Martin is taking her love for fashion to new heights.
The 16-year-old has been named as one of the Top 15 hopefuls to take on the title of Australia’s Next Top Model.
Australia’s Next Top Model is a reality TV series which airs on FOX8 and aims to find undiscovered Australian models giving them a platform to start a successful career within the modelling industry.
Shanali said she was surprised to make it this far in the competition but loved the experience.
“It’s surreal, it was something I never really expected, I sort of had little plans to go into modelling but it was never a big career choice for me,” Shanali said.
Although the Point Cook Senior College student hopes to have a career in fashion design one day, she is happily taking a different fashion path with modelling.
“I’ve always wanted to get into design ever since I can remember,” Shanali said.
“And this competition has definitely given me a little bit of an inside into the industry,” she said.
“I’ve definitely realised by being on the show that I do enjoy modelling and I would like to take that path and see where it takes me and see how long I can do it for.”
Shanali said she initially did not have the intention of trying out at the Melbourne auditions and just went along with her mother “for a look”.
But her beauty could not be missed and she was spotted by the judges who asked to speak to her.
“They asked me why I wasn’t trying out and they told me they would really like for me to try out,” she said.
“I’m glad I went for it because it was a really really good experience,” she said.
