Close to 60 aspiring models were successfully cast yesterday for the Bottega Gold Fijian Fashion Festival model audition.

The casting call was held at the University of the South Pacific’s Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies in Suva.

The Fashion Council of Fiji chairperson Faraz Ali, who led the panel of judges, said the casting was really good and successful.

“We had about 100 models show up for casting and I think we have casted about 60 models, which is a good turnout,” Mr Ali said.

“The second model casting will be held on February 9th to cater for those models who had missed out. All in all, we are looking at the same number last year whereby 100-110 models were involved in the festival.”

Mr Ali said they were happy that their message about diversity was influential because the models who turned up came from different backgrounds.

“Beautiful people of all shapes, sizes, gender, expressions, identities, ethnicities and hair types,” said the chairperson.

“All sorts of people had shown up and come together to audition at this platform and we have always had part of our festival to include gender non-binary models as well.”

The models who were cast in the first call would undergo training, which includes runway training and presentation of garments so that it brings about maximum sales for designers.

Ali said: “We also want to prepare them as young people for the future and so we train them in branding, self-confidence, business and various things so after they finish with modelling their journey in the fashion industry is not over.

“Their journey still continues so there is longevity of the trainings provided. So these models are able to go into the world and contribute positively to Fiji and globally more broadly.”

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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