Interview with Samantha Harris
The following interview appeared in the Sun-Herald (Australia) on 26 September.
Australian beauty Samantha Harris is one of the country's most sought-after models. She walked in a record number of shows during Australian Fashion Week, has appeared on the cover of Vogue Australia and, at 20 years old, is about to embark on an international career.
What's your heritage?
My dad is Australian but of English and German descent and my mum is Aboriginal. My Aboriginal heritage is really important to me because it is such a unique culture and it's not spoken about too much and there aren't too many indigenous models.
Your mum was a part of the stolen generations. Did this affect your relationship with her?
Yes, definitely. Because that happened to my mum when she was little, she always said that when she had kids she would give us the best possible life because she was not fortunate enough to have it. When my younger brother and I were growing up, she was very protective of us because of her childhood.
What lessons have you learnt from her?
She taught us to follow your dreams and goals because she didn't have the same opportunities. If there is something you want, then keep persisting. That is what she did with me because she knew I wanted to be a model and she kept persisting with it and we finally got there.
Did you always want to be a model?
Yes. I grew up on the Gold Coast, in Tweed Heads, and I used to enter competitions and do little beauty pageants with my mum when I was younger.
Were your unique features a help or a hindrance when you started your modelling career?
I did get a lot of media attention because of being Aboriginal but it's not about being Aboriginal but about not looking the same as every other model.
What was your first big break?
At 11, I won a
Dolly [magazine] competition for "the model most likely to succeed"; then, two years later, I entered the
Girlfriend competition and became a national finalist [the year in which Abbey Lee Kershaw won].
Do you get nervous?
I do a little bit. I don't when I'm doing a fashion show or anything because that's just a normal everyday thing now but when people recognise me, I start to get a little bit shy and a bit nervous.
Is it strange being recognised?
I think it's really weird because some people get really excited and I don't see what the excitement is. Yes, I model but it's not really a big deal but people see it as a huge thing like I'm some kind of celebrity or something, which is weird.
What is it like being a role model for the indigenous community?
I don't think or see myself as a role model but, you know, I think it's great that indigenous girls can look up to me and they can set goals for themselves because I have pursued what I have wanted to do.
Who do you admire?
In the modelling industry, I look up to top models like Naomi Campbell; not her attitude, obviously, but she is still doing so well at 40. Hopefully, I can be like that one day.
What was it like to get your Vogue cover?
I never really thought I would be on the cover of
Vogue because you see celebrities and top models on the cover, so it was really exciting. At first, it was just a trial but I was just excited they even considered me to do a trial and then when I found out it was confirmed, I couldn't believe it and I was counting down the days until it came out.
What's next?
I'll definitely go to New York some time in the future, which will be exciting, and hopefully they will love me over there.
Will your boyfriend go overseas with you?
Yes. He's really supportive of me, which is really good. We met in a shopping centre one day through mutual friends and he moved down to Sydney with me. We have been going out for 2½ years.
Is he 'the one'?
Yes!
Do you feel the pressure to stay thin?
I go to the gym as much as I can because I want to be healthy and fit but it's all about everything in moderation. Yes, you do see girls overseas who are really tiny but I think people should like you for you, and you shouldn't try and be something you're not.
What's your ultimate job?
I would love to get the Victoria's Secret show. That would be the ultimate job.
bite size
WE WENT TO Stanley Street Station, East Sydney, NSW.
WE ATE Fried calamari; smoked salmon with rocket and grilled autumn-vegetable sandwich and a marinated spicy lamb, roast eggplant, cucumber and mint-yoghurt sandwich.
WE DRANK Lemon, lime and bitters.
SAMANTHA WORE Seafolly.
Nice to see some international work.
