Kiwi model shows support for Scotland

New Zealander Eden Bristowe was the first model on the runway at the Vivienne Westwood Red Label show at London Fashion Week. Bristowe wore a "Yes" badge in support of Scottish independence. Picture / Getty Images

A 16-year-old model from New Plymouth has opened the Vivienne Westwood Red Label show at London Fashion Week wearing a "Yes" badge, in support of Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.

Kiwi Eden Bristowe was the first model to take the runway at the show for the veteran British fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, who has never shied away from controversy.

After the show, in which all models donned the blue and white "Yes" badge, English-born Westwood told media she hated England and thought an independent Scotland was best for the country.

Andrea Plowright, the owner of Ms Bristowe's agency, 62 Models and Talent, said it was the first time in her 12 years with the company that a model from the agency had walked in a London Fashion Week show, let alone opened one.

She said Ms Bristowe had competed against models from all over Europe.

"She was so excited she couldn't breathe when she told her mum," Ms Plowright said.

At the Vivienne Westwood show, the 73-year-old designer had a pamphlet distributed entitled "Democracy in the UK". The septuagenarian has used past shows to protest against controversial US prison Guantanamo Bay and fracking in Britain, and to show support for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

It is Ms Bristowe's first trip to the Northern Hemisphere and next week she heads to Paris Fashion Week.

"It's like a romance, because she's 16, and she did New Zealand Fashion Week [in August] then she flew out [to London] last Sunday, went to a casting, booked Vivienne Westwood straight away and opened the show," Ms Plowright said.