From fan to glam, Amy eyes TV model show

Amy Wang, 19, wants to swap music studies for model glamour so she's auditioning, with thousands of other runway hopefuls over the next week, for the Next Top Model TV show. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Amy Wang wants to be New Zealand's Next Top Model.

The 19-year-old is among thousands of runway hopefuls auditioning for the second series of the television show this week.

Auditions begin at 10am today at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane.

Miss Wang, a huge fan of the show, was born in New Zealand but moved to a boarding school in New York when she was 15.

"I'm not an American citizen so I could never audition for the American Next Top Model. This is sort of like my only chance..

"I watched last season and I watched it again on YouTube once it was over. I love that show.

"I've been following the website ever since last season was over. I check it religiously.

"I've done a little bit of modelling before and it's such a great experience. I want to sort of take it to the next level and this is such a good way to do it."

Asked why she wanted to be a model, she said: "It's very creative and I'm a very creative person.

"You have to work really hard for it actually, it's not as simple as just walking in a straight line in heels - that's what I thought. It's so much more than that.

"It's a very fast-paced industry and I like to be busy all the time. It keeps me going.

"Plus, I absolutely love fashion.

"I love being on the runway. It's very stressful but it's so worth it. The minute when you hit the runway is just an amazing feeling."

While Miss Wang is not short of enthusiasm, she knows she it cutting it fine with her height. She is just on the 170cm limit.

'I'm trying to grow, doing yoga and pilates, and hopefully I'll grow a little bit more. I've just started with a chiropractor - that's supposed to help.

Applicants must be between 16 and 25 years of age as of July 1, 2010, and at least 170cm tall.

More Auckland auditions will be held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Mangere from 1pm to 6pm tomorrow.

Auditions will follow in Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, Nelson, Wellington, Napier and Tauranga.