Emilia's model look turns heads

COLIN SMITH/Nelson Mail

RIGHT STUFF: Emilia Petronelli is Miss Teen.

Relevant offers

Fashion

WORLDman unveils winter looks Jen tired of 'safe' red carpet style Footwear: the best contraceptive Nearly nude model in stitches Trend report: Heavy metal Material Girl shines in Givenchy Kardashian clan go leopard crazy French fashionistas' wake-up call In love with Christian Louboutin Angry models seek workplace rights

You don't have to be conventionally beautiful to be a model, says Richmond Mall's 2009 Model Search organiser and judge Alana Riley, but you do need the X-factor.

"It's not prettiness, it's not about beauty. It's about bone structure, poise, confidence, control and the way they present themselves. Sometimes the oddest-looking person can be the one you pick."

Not that she would call Miss Teen winner, 14-year-old Emilia Petronelli, odd-looking. Ms Riley said the judges, including a hairdresser, photographer, choreographer and a model coach, all agreed Emilia was the obvious winner.

"I picked hundreds of models when I had my agency and after years of practice you know straight away. Emilia was a foregone conclusion. It was the way she walked everyone just stopped and looked. Also because of the versatility of her look."

Emilia, originally from Nelson but now living in Christchurch, won a $500 portfolio from Glenn Bisdee photography and a $50 Richmond Mall voucher.

"It was fantastic. I really enjoyed it and it was a great experience. Some really nice girls competed and we had a lot of fun. I was in the mall with my mum and she said, `Why don't you give it a go?'

"It was only $2 to enter so I decided to and I really didn't expect to win."

She hopes it will be the start of a career for her.

"Definitely - I'm very interested in it."

About 130 Nelson girls and two boys competed in five categories: Miss Preschool, Miss Primary, Miss Junior, Miss Intermediate and Miss Teen.

"There's great talent and awesome confidence up here," Ms Riley said.

- © Fairfax NZ News