Canberra's Creative industries kick into action - FashFest Model Casting 2016
Canberra is set to break its own record. A record it set last year, and a stylish one indeed.
On Sunday 22 May, FASHFEST will hold its 2016 model casting and if registrations to date are anything to go by, more than 300 hopefuls will apply to be a model for the red-carpet fashion event.
The model casting is more than a bunch of beauties dealing with their nerves and excitement. In it’s own small way, it’s a boost to business in the city and spreads the word about our cool capital.
Fashfest hosts an ‘open model casting’ each year. This means interstate applicants are welcome and in 2015 this was certainly the case. Around 20 models came from interstate last year and one of the judges was from Sydney modelling agency, Wink Models.
About eight interstate made the grade for the final show, and travelled here from as far as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It’s not a huge number but no doubt these winners chat, chat, chatted about what a blast they had backstage and on the catwalk at Fashfest. It was selfie city, and no doubt they learned at least a little about our modern capital. Every bit counts for business in the city. Experience is so much better than ads.
The 2016 casting is once again being held at the National Convention Centre, undergoing a refurbishment ($5.4 million over two years). The makeshift catwalk works a treat and the models, each holding a number to identify who they are, strut their stuff before the judging panel. This year they’ll audition to tunes by Hamish Lardi, NeonHoney and FASHFEST’s official music director, Ashley Feraude.
This year’s panel features Hayley O’Neill, Sydney-based fashion stylist and Fashion Office Coordinator at Marie Claire Australia, who hails from Canberra. Internationally renowned photographer Robert Coppa is on the panel, and so are the owners of Canberra’s three top modelling agencies Victoria Schnable, Victoria’s Models, Tina Nikolovski, Devojka Models, and Andrea Hutchinson, HAUS Models.
FASHFEST 2016 will once again be held in the city, at the National Convention Centre—29 September to 1 October. Registrations for the model casting are open now online: www.fashfest.com.au (models must be at least 16 years of age the day of the casting).
[Fashfest]