A model to labourer
IT is a long way from the driveway to the catwalk, but Thomas Hazlett seems to be making short work of a move from labourer to model.
The 18yearold from Queenstown this week will step on to his biggest catwalk so far, when he takes part in the International Emerging Designers Show in Dunedin.
That comes just eight months after he first trod the runway, and his agent said he already had big interest from overseas.
Mr Hazlett attended John McGlashan College in Dunedin, before returning to Queenstown last year.
He began work for Queenstown Paving, doing work for the local council and residential projects, ‘‘building up some cash’’.
He said he had a friend who modelled — people had suggested he should — and she put him in touch with Darryl McNamara, from Aart on St Andrew.
Mr McNamara said Mr Hazlett was ‘‘very committed’’ to modelling, concentrating on everything from gym work to diet and skin care.
He had already modelled for an Australian menswear label, and there was a lot of interest from overseas ‘‘all champing at the bit to get him on board’’.
He had the looks to do well, but also had the ‘‘walk and talk’’ that would further his career.
Mr Hazlett said modelling had been ‘‘different at first, definitely different being in front of all those people’’.
He modelled when he could, but it was on and off.
‘‘It’s pretty good when it comes around.’’
He planned to move to Australia to develop his career.