NINA VODO - FIJI'S NEXT TOP MODEL

FROM a childhood passion to now a career she hopes to pursue in the near future, fashion has certainly become an industry Nina Adi Tuirabe Vodo grown to love.
The young lady from Taveuni is in the country and will be modelling in this year's Fiji Fashion Week show, with other young local talents.
This will be however, a first Fashion Week experience for the 21 year old who now resides in the State of Maryland in the USA.
And she considers herself lucky to be residing there and pursing her dream in fashion.
"Fashion is something I am passionate about," she said.
"I wanted to be a doctor but when I was 14, I was tall and skinny and we had a contest, a model expo with the photogenic and runway category and then we waited for call backs, and I actually had 10 call backs, so I enlisted in an agency and started getting jobs mostly for hair products and so forth.
"But most of the jobs I got through the people I met," she said.
Nina is currently pursuing a Degree in Arts and Fashion.
Being part of Fiji Fashion week, she said, would give her the chance to learn and to be part of Fiji's fashion development.
"I want to see where Fiji is in terms of fashion.
"I have always wanted to do things that involve my country and the honour is mine to come home and be part of Fiji Fashion Week."
Her advices to young people who are striving to make it big in the industry.
"I just know there is no bigger limit than yourself and people can strive to become other things - so go for it," Nina said
Her fashion icons include supermodel Kate Moss and Tayra Banks
Meanwhile, as part of a holistic approach to the development of Fiji's growing fashion industry, Fiji Fashion Week (FJFW) and Tuckers Ice Cream are creating a platform to project and unveil the creative abilities and fashion potential of students and children in Fiji.
A total of 20 high school students with the youngest in form 3, registered their interest to design and create two garments earlier this year for the Tuckers Ice Cream Childrens Show.
"Tuckers Ice Cream is proud to be associated to Fiji Fashion Week in encouraging our children in bringing out their talent and creativity," said Goodman Fielder General Manager, Mr Shaun Joils.
"Tuckers Ice Cream strongly believes in early development whether it is academically, sports, art, dance, music or fashion. We are looking forward to this year's Fiji Fashion Week."
"We believe that fashion should also be a popular career aspect for students," said Fiji Fashion Week Managing Director, Ms Ellen Whippy-Knight.
"With corporate support the 2011 Fiji Fashion Week is offering a unique platform to Fiji's school students with an interest in fashion by giving them a chance to showcase their talent to experts of the fashion industry, which is primarily the reason why we support the event this year"
"The children that have entered in this year's Student category have displayed an amazing amount of talent. The garments that have delivered to our office indicate an enormous amount of potential in an industry that is largely untapped."
"The student design category has received garments from boys and girls as far as Ba with majority of the designers from the Central division."
Individual outfits will be judged under the following categories: creativity, uniqueness, ingenuity, its construction and technique, its professional finishing and how the final garment will be presented as a complete look.
Judges for this category will include Mark Halabe, Ana Tuiketei and Aaliyah Jan.