Model search winners Darth Cornelius and Olivia Feyter. Photos / Lynda Gordon Photography
The winners of the Essence Model Search 2020 are stoked.
Olivia Feyter and Darth Cornelius said they loved the photo shoot and were thrilled with their prizes.
On Saturday they were glammed up, kitted out and photographed at Diva Bar and Eatery and The County Hotel by Lynda Gordon and her son Jason, from Lynda Gordon Photography.
Olivia, has a son who is almost 4, said she really enjoyed meeting the people involved with the photo shoot.
"It was lots of fun and everyone was so nice. Great locations, really cool clothes, shoes and accessories and I was stoked with my hair and makeup. It was just an awesome day."
She said her family were surprised she entered because it's not something she would normally do.
"I love being spontaneous so when my friend shared the model search call for entries with me I thought why not. I loved the fact that it was a search for people of all shapes and sizes and I thought I've got nothing to lose."
Olivia, 25, works as a project manager for Ecoefficient Solutions and "loves her role".
"I've been here for 18 months and enjoy the challenging and diverse role."
Outside work she likes getting into nature and staying fit.
"I love the beach, Te Mata Peak and socialising," she said.
"This experience has been a lot of fun. It's been cool to put myself out there doing something totally different to what I am used to. I have meet some cool people and I love the prizes. Thank you for the opportunity".
Runner up was Paris Carroll and in third place was Anna Murray.
Darth said he wasn't expecting to win and he was stoked.
"It was an awesome day especially watching how the photographers worked because I am also a photographer," he said.
"The prizes are cool — one of the prizes was a jacket from Thompson's Suits, trouble is now I'll have to save to buy the rest of the outfit," he laughed.
Only his mum and his cousin know he has won.
"I'm saving it as a surprise for the rest of my family, especially my grandmother who lambasted me until I entered."
The reason his cousin knows is he was also persuaded to enter by his grandmother — the same grandmother. Wait until she finds out her grandsons came first and third.
Darth says he loves photography for two reasons.
"The first is the neverending nature of it. No matter how much you learn there's always more. The second thing is it gets you talking to people. If you approach a random person with a camera and ask to take their photo it starts a conversation. People are more open to you if you have a camera."
He is also interested in occult history, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and ecology.
He enjoys training at the gym, watching films, looking at photography books and reading.
"I have never in my life done anything like this before but I would love to pursue it. It was fun."
Runner up was James Nuku and in third place was Lachlan Morris.
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