KEY POINTS:
Viarni Bright is just 13 but is already on the catwalk to success and was this week revealed as the winner from 1000 entries of a national model search competition.
"I was so shocked and, like, excited. I couldn't believe that I actually won, it was just crazy," the winner of the Girlfriend magazine 2007 Model Search said yesterday.
The Papamoa teen has a crazy year ahead of her as the model search winner, and could possibly be modelling for fashion label Roxy within months.
Viarni, who attends Mt Maunganui Intermediate, was chosen from nearly 1000 other hopefuls from throughout the country and as part of her prize is on the front of the January edition of Girlfriend, out now.
She also received a contract with modelling agency Clyne, plus a trip to the Gold Coast for the eight-page fashion spread in Girlfriend.
Viarni said the Gold Coast trip was intense, as she was only there two days and had to have a photo shoot for Girlfriend and New Idea.
"That was pretty cool. It was full on because it was such a short time."
Seeing herself on the cover of a magazine was another new experience.
"It was pretty crazy - not many people believed that I was on there. It was a good feeling but really weird."
Girlfriend editor Pamela Marker, who was on the judging panel, said Viarni made an impact for many reasons.
"Viarni was a standout as the girl next door. She went with the flow, had a great personality, kind of confident without being over the top," she said.
"She's obviously easy on the eyes. She's got all the talent Clyne are looking for."
Ms Marker said Viarni had dealt with the pressure of being a model remarkably well and said Girlfriend had made the right decision by choosing her.
"She's handled everything really well. We've thrown her in the deep end and she's taken it all in her stride," Ms Marker said.
The Girlfriend magazine Model Search was in its ninth year this year. Previous winners had ended up getting contracts with overseas modelling agencies and had worked on the catwalk in Sydney.
Viarni said she was eager to get on with the job.
"It's pretty cool. It's exciting not knowing what's in the future."
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
