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We would like you to meet some of the Rising Stars of the model & fashion industry. All these young Australians are very passionate about what they are trying to achieve & we believe they have the raw natural talent to make their dreams come true just as Rising Star Rachael Finch achieved in first winning 2004 Young Model Challenge in Home Hill then being crowned Miss Universe Aust 2009 @ the Sydney Hilton in April. We salute these Rising Stars.

We Salute these Rising Stars

Have you got the talent to be one of this country’s next big Rising Stars in the fashion or entertainment Industry?

Well if so Rachael is looking to choose 20 national finalists to enter her inaugural 2010 Rising Star Awards to be staged in Townsville on 8 April. So if you have a passion for dancing, singing, acting or fashion then please fill out a below nomination form & you never know where this amazing journey might begin.

Hi, my name is Catriona Gray. I’m a 15 year old, year 10 student attending Trinity Anglican School, in Cairns Queensland. I’m currently undertaking lessons in both sing and dance, whilst I am also participating in the local theatre production – Miss Saigon as a mainstream character. I also I’m a black belt in martial arts, and I have various academic and modelling achievements. To date I have competed and won numerous, major competitions around Australia, from local to national competition. This year I was fortunate to be judged Model of the Year in Tamblyn Young Model Challenge at the $100,000 Opal Fashion Bash in Townsville.

My role models are, first and foremost of all, my parents: through whose care and devotion and dedicated time, have taught me so much so that I may have the most opportunities in life. In the future I wish to follow a career path of medicine and literature, as the human body fascinates me along with the desire to help people in need. Also, the adventure, travelling and experience of modelling and the fashion world is one that I look forward to venturing in the near future. I’m currently anticipating the arrival of the Tamblyn’s Young Model Discovery Finals in October in Brisbane. I believe it will be a good experience and I really look forward to it.

My name is Hannah Bolton. I am 15 years of age & currently attend Tully State High School. Last year i entered into the 2008 NOMA Opal Fashion Bash and was lucky enough to be titled Best Model for the 13-15 year age group. Since then i have competed in the 2008 Tamblyn Young Model Discovery in Brisbane and was placed in the top 10 and offered a 2 year contract with Tamblyn Models. In 2009 I re-entered the Opal Fashion Bash and won the Best Runway Model Title. This October I will again be competing in the Tamblyn Young Model Discovery & I am very excited to be given another shot at winning one of major titles.

I am also very interested in Accounting and hope to become a Forensic Accountant, but modeling is my passion. I have also started dancing. My dream is to become a professional model and travel with it. I would love to go to Spain and also model in the Rosemount, New York and Milan Fashion Weeks. I have been told Italy is where I will make my mark as a fashion model. Lots have said I have that look about me. For now I just want to finish my year 12 schooling & learn as much as I can from others in the fashion industry.

Hi my name is Bria Corporal. I am 15 yrs of age & attend St. Margaret Marys College, Townsville as a year 11 student. I love all types of sport & defiantly have a bit of a passion for fashion. Away from school I am a Cadet Leader in ST. JOHN AMBULANCE where one of my duties is to teach First Aid. It’s so rewarding knowing that one day you may be actually assisting someone to save one’s life. My role models in life are people like Elle McPherson & DR. Fred Hollows. These two people are important because of what they have done & how they have changed the world in their work professions.

At present I am hoping to become a successful model, travel to explore & learn as much from people within the modelling & fashion industries. After modelling I would love to become a Doctor or Forensic Scientist, I have a passion for these areas & have always loved helping people. I recently had a photo shoot with Lew Tamblyn in Brisbane & these are just two of the amazing images he took of me. At present I am working hard to improve my catwalk skills in preparing for the 2009 Tamblyn Young Model Discovery Final in Brisbane in October. I can’t wait to hit the catwalk, it’s so exciting!

Each $2 Art Union Ticket you purchase 1 Vote will be awarded to your nominated Rising Star – No limit on number of votes you can register. The Rising Star whom receives the most votes will WIN 2010 Rising Star of the Year Award & win a fantastic prize package So let’s get those Votes coming in.

To purchase your $2 art union tickets in this draw Please send cheque or money order made payable to

Youth Fashion Expressions Inc

Post to: PO Box 1866, Thuringowa Central. Qld 4817

Thanks for your support

Hi! My name is Mikaela McTier-Browne & I turn 15 yrs of age in October. Currently I am a year 10 student at Emmaus College in Rockhampton. I have only recently got into modeling but love travelling, fashion and design. I would love to have my own fashion clothing and shoe label. This year I have decided to concentrate on modeling and my schoolwork. In the past, I have played a lot of sport including representative basketball and have completed some volunteer work. My role models are Miranda Kerr and Elle Macpherson because they are so elegant and business smart, and my parents who have taught me the values of honesty, responsibility and hard work.

I look forward to progressing with my modeling career but also will enjoy studying at university at the end of Year 12 in the health or business fields. At the Townsville Opal Fashion Bash earlier this year, I was excited to be selected as Miss Photogenic and as a Tamblyn Young Model Discovery Finalist. During the July school holidays I travelled to Brisbane to partipiciate in a 5 day professional model training course as part of my Tamblyn prize package. I cannot wait to return in October for these finals. I also have entered 2010 Fashion Ambassador Awards which the winner will be crowned this country’s first Miss Fashion Australia. I hope it’s me.

Hi my name is Carla Louise & I currently a year 10 high school student in the beautiful Hunter Region. I have always been influenced by my parent in arts & I attend drama, acting, dance as well as business studies courses. My future interests are to become a choreographer & run my own business. My role models in life are foremost my parents & the Opal Fashion Bash which offers all young Australians the opportunity to be discovered. In 2008 at this event I was judged best runway model which gave me the opportunity to compete in the Tamblyn Young Model Discovery in Brisbane. After the event I signed a modelling contract with Tamblyn Models who then co-signed me to Chadwick’s Model Agency in Sydney. Then to support my quest to become a professional model our family moved from Kununurra in the Kimberley Region of WA all the way down to Hunter Region in NSW. I will never forget this sacrifice my parents have made for me.

Since continuing my training at Chadwick’s I have started to attend some model castings. SUPRÉ, Korean catalogue, Sheike Clothing & I have been chosen to attend a Geans For Jeans Cancer promotion, HUGGIES fashion parade as well as appearing on Kerri – Anne TV show in a Geans For Jeans fashion parade. My dream is to become this country’s first indigenous Super Model & travel to New York, Milan & the Greek Islands. For now I just want to finish my year 12 studies & enjoy some of my favourite pastimes like skate boarding, camping & fishing with my family as well as meeting lots of new friends in my new home town. I am also planning to enter 2010 Fashion Ambassador Awards back up in Townsville & would loved to be crowned Miss Fashion Australia.

Hi everybody. My name is Jesinta Campbell & I am just 17 yrs of age. I am currently enjoying my first year of professional modelling after completing my high schooling & then deferring a scholarship I won to study Journalism. I was glad I did this as besides modelling at major fashion shows in this country I was very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to travel overseas to model in Shanghai. These ‘experiences of a lifetime’ have defiantly opened my eyes & my career focus has now changed to pursue a career in the television & film industry. This was my passion at school where I excelled at drama so in between my modelling I am now enrolled in both a Television Presenting & Acting Class in Sydney where I am based. I have many role models & I am constantly inspired by ordinary people doing extraordinary things. If I had to name a few of the people whom I admire & look to as role models, I would have to say individuals like Nelson Mandela & Hugh Thomas Jr. Their Courage & determination provide me with daily motivation.

I was first discovered during a fashion parade at the 2007 Gold Coast Creative Industries Awards at Marymount College at Burleigh. Talent scout Henry Petersen asked if he could send my photos to Tamblyn Models in Brisbane. Before I completed a vacation – modelling & professional model course i was chosen to model at 2008 NRA Australian Fashion Design Awards & later 2008 Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival. I then competed in 2008 Tamblyn Young Model Discovery & won a 3 year model contract. With just $500 in my pocket & a dream to become an actor, I brought a one way air ticket to Sydney where I am now based. So far this year besides my 2 month Shanghai experience I have modelled at IMG Gold Coast Swim Week, NRA Australian Fashion Design Awards, Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, Myers Spring/Summer launch alongside Jennifer Hawkins & L’Oreal Spring Fashion Festival in Melbourne.

I recently appeared in campaigns with Telstra, Under Cover Wear & Davenport working beside Aussie swim stars Stephanie Rice & Eamon Sullivan. I am excited about seeing my smiling face on advertising billboards in the summer coming months. I will also be appearing in a short film titled “SYNETHESIA” with Jessica Tovey (Bell in Home & Away/ Rescue Special OPS) & directed by Max Hemming. I would love to WIN Rachael Finch Rising Star of the Year Award & I plan to enter both Miss Fashion Australia & Miss Universe Australia Pageant in 2010.

Hello, my name is Whitney Stacey. I am 17 years of age & live on a cattle station near Richmond (a small country town 500 km west of Townsville). After year seven I went away to board at Blackheath & Thornburgh College in Charters Towers. It was in Charters Towers where I first entered 2008 Western Model Hunt & to my surprise won the title. This then gave me direct entry into the Tamblyn Models $25,000 Young Model Challenge which was staged as part of Opal Fashion Bash in Townsville. Here I was judged Most Photogenic Model which I won a 5 day professional model training course with Tamblyn’s in Brisbane as well as entry into their Young Model Discovery Final. Although I never won the experience i gained & the new friends I met made it all worthwhile.

This year I am boarding at St Margaret's Anglican Girls' School in Brisbane, this is where I will finish year 11 and 12. I love going to school in Brisbane, it’s all very exciting and suits me a lot better. My passion is Drama as well as Arts & I have been given many opportunities that really challenge my skills and make me want to strive further. Also while I’m in Brisbane it is a lot easier for me to do more modelling. I’ve have again been selected to compete in the Tamblyn’s Young Model Discovery Final this year & hope to at least get in the Top 10. I dream of having a modelling career that takes me all over the world, especially Paris! Talent scout Henry Petersen say’s I am a bit of a Hollywood Scarlett Johansson Look-a-like. Not sure about that. I am also entering Miss Fashion Australia People’s Choice Award so I would appreciate all your voting support.

Hi everyone, my name is Courtney Monsma. I am 12 yrs of age & my family live on the beautiful Gold Coast. Currently I attend Tallebudgera State School & I have a passion for modelling, singing, dancing as well as musical theatre. I am a proud member of ZOOP CO, which are an elite professional performance company as well as a member of NAPA (National Academy of Performing Arts). Each year I perform in several productions. Recently I played the role of ‘Annie’ in a Neptune’s Theatre Production & I am currently playing the role of ‘Dorothy’ in ‘The Wiz’ for a NAPA musical production. I have also appeared in 2 episodes on ‘The Strip’, as extra on the new TV series H2O Just Add Water & as the lead little girl in ’Scarecrow’ the feature film trailer, which was a bit scary. I also appeared on Kids WB, SUNRISE, TODAY, TOASTED TV & have even done a music clip for Samantha Dann, which was a heap of fun.

My role model in life is my mum who has been there every step of the way in helping me follow my career dreams. She is the one who inspires me to never give up especially when I am feeling a bit down. I know with her support & guidance one day both our dreams will come true. I have been modelling since a very young age namely at shopping centres around Brisbane & the Gold Coast. I guess some of the highlights would have to be parading Mr. Wolf clothing label at NRA Fashion Awards, modelling swimwear for Duck Duck Goose & Eenie Meenie Minnii Mo. I also have done lots photo shoots, TV commercials & promotional shoots for Panasonic, SeaWorld, Hannah’s Shoes (NZ), Korean catalogue & Runaway Bay Shopping Centre. I am over the moon about being chosen as a finalist in the inaugural Rachael Finch Rising Star of the Year Award. I have also decided to enter the Miss Fashion Australia 2010. So if you think I am a real contender please register some votes in my name in People’s Choice Awards & we both just might WIN some of these fabulous prizes on offer.

Hi everyone, my name is Jenna Dearness – Dark. I am 13 yrs of age & I live with my mum on the Gold Coast. I currently attend Silkwood Primary School & my main passions in life are singing, music, performing, song writing & modelling. I have been a nominated finalist in many prestige composer/songwriter awards including Qld’s QSONG Awards (past 3 yrs), 2008/2009 Apra sponsored ASA Song Writing Awards & in this country’s International Country Music event where I competed against adult composers. I have had to study very hard to achieve these results & I play a range of instruments including piano, guitar, flute & I am training in classical voice.

In recent years I have performed in many musical shows across Queensland including Cats, Annie, Peter Pan & even a rock Opera. I have my own Band called “Burning Static” which made it to the finals of Qld’s NOVA 106.9 Best Rock Band 2009. Yes one could say my life is full of music. In 2010 I have been invited to compete in 2 new national awards to be staged at the Opal Fashion Bash in Townsville. The Rachael Finch Rising Star & Miss Fashion Australia Awards will hopefully allow me to not only perform on stage but show off my passion for fashion as I do like to dress up to impress being a performer. I also plan to enter Tamblyn Young Model Challenge while there. I am very grateful for being given the opportunity to compete against some of the best talent in this country. If you think I could be the next big rising star please register some votes in my name in People’s Choice Awards & we might just both win some fabulous prizes.