Child model goes on to glittering international career - in law. File Photo / NZ Herald
He may have the jaunty stance and nonchalant hand-in-pockets gaze of a catwalk professional but this is not New Zealand's next top model. In fact, Simon Berry said a runway turn at Remuera's St Lukes Kindergarten in 1968 was his only moment of fashion glory.
"That was the sum total
of my modelling career," he said.
Berry, then 2, paraded before the critical eyes of the Lewis sisters, Catherine, left, 4, and Debbie, 3, during a fashion parade to promote Small Wonder, which became Angels boutique in Parnell.
Rather than going through a gruelling casting process, Berry landed the gig through connections.
Angels was part-owned by Angela Paykel, a friend of Berry's mother. Angels sold clothes for pre-schoolers and 12 of the children from the kindergarten were enlisted to present the latest looks at the fashion show.
Berry, who is now a partner in the Hong Kong office of international law firm Latham & Watkins, remembers neither the Lewis sisters nor the occasion. He is not sure if he got to keep the Peter Pan-collared shirt and fetching white socks.
The last time Berry saw this picture was at his wedding in 2001. He said his mother took "great delight" in showing it in a slide show of personal photographs.
"It got a lot of laughs," he said.
Berry is the father of two young daughters. He said neither had dabbled in modelling. "They're big on dancing and performance."
