Nedlands Model for DJs show
Nedlands model Sophie Ward is still finding her feet in the world of writing, but she is an old hand on the runway.
Away from the modelling limelight, the 20 year old is studying writing at the University of WA.
"It's nice to have a glamorous life outside my academic life, but it has always taken second place to university," Sophie said. She said many of her university assignments were done during long waits between fashion shows.
One of her piece of writing focused on her childhood and close relationship with sister Gemma and learning to let her go when Gemma jetted off on her overseas modelling career. A second was an inspirational piece on how to avoid stereotypes and to be an individual.
Sophie is certainly her own person and does not feel over-shadowed by Gemma, who was recently made the face of the Calvin Klein perfume Obsession Night.
"When I was at Sydney Fashion week, people were saying things like 'Sophie could eventually upstage jer sister', or 'there might be some competition' and comments about 'sibling rivalry',"Sophie said.
"But it's not like that. We're both doing it for the same sort of reasons and neither of us conciously moved towards being models."
Gemma (17) was discovered when she went along to watch friends entering a reality televisio supermodel show, and Sophie was discovered by Vivien's Modelling Agency when she went to watch her sister model. Now they both work for the same Sydney agency.
Sophie said Gemma had always wanted to be an actor and used her acting skills in modelling. But Sophie said she had never been sure what she wanted to be, changing her mind from wanting to be a vet , to a paediatrician to a lawyer.
She finally discovered her love of English while doing her TEE at Shenton College.
Now, in the last semester of her arts degree, Sophie says she still has no definite plans for the future.
She said she was interested in possibly becoming a stylist for a magazine, a fashion writer or a novelist.
The fashion industry has also offered her many contacts with magazines and she has had pieces published on Follow Magazine.
She will style her owning coming shoot with Vogue Australia, which will reflect her ecletic taste for op-shop finds and the latest designer wear.
Sophie said she subconciously picked up tips on styling while looking through Gemma's modelling slides with her Mother. One thing that is clear is the close relationship Sophie has with her family.
Sophie will grace the David Jones runway to launch it's Spring and Summer collection in Perth from September 8 to 10.
....So sophie WASN'T a model before Gemma

well!!