Konan Snow picked for Fashion Week
Konan Snow had never walked a runway in his life until he gave it a go at the Miromoda Competition and Runway Show at Pataka last month.
Yet the Kapiti College 15-yearold, along with legal executive student and mother of one Rikitia Holloway from Otaki, showed enough talent on the runway to win another modelling experience.
They were selected to walk in the Miromoda Showcase at New Zealand Fashion Week in August.
Snow said he felt ’’privileged and excited’’ to represent the Kapiti Coast as well as Miromoda at the fashion week.
‘‘I [am] supported by everyone involved ... My Mum, Dad and family.’’
Snow got into modelling because of his love for the camera. ’’I thought I would give it a shot.’’
Walking on a runway was harder than some people might expect, he said.
‘‘I am still working on my technique, as there are a few things I need to improve.’’
As it would be his first time at New Zealand Fashion Week, Snow said he was keen to observe and see what the modelling industry was really like.
‘‘To experience what it’s like working with other models and designers on a professional level, that could lead to more pathways in the future.’’
Holloway, 23, said her first experience learning catwalk was in 2014, walking for Wellington designer Sofia Aroha.
‘‘I also learnt watching tonnes of YouTube videos and researching the internet for some of my favourite international models.’’
Holloway hoped to ‘‘learn, develop and have an awesome time’’ at New Zealand Fashion Week.
Miromoda co-founder Ata Te Kanawa said Miromoda worked hard to increase the diversity of model agences.
In the first Miromoda Show at fashion week in 2009, they cast the entire week’s quota of four Maori models.
Miromoda was committed to creating an industry that considered the multicultural environment of today as well as the global market when casting Maori models, Te Kanawa said.
‘‘Absolutely anyone can attend a model call,’’ she said.
However, they were ‘‘pleased with the potential that exists in places like Porirua’’.
Te Kanawa credits a new relationship with Porirua City Council with offering them the Pataka venue for the annual competition and runway.
New Zealand Fashion Week runs from August 22 to 28 at the ANZ Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland.