Model Makeda Soper-Wirangi goes from Priceline aisle to New York catwalk in two

爱国爱港

Priceline aisle to New York catwalk,model Makeda Soper-Wirangi is making a splash in the world of high fashion.

When young Maori woman Makeda Soper-Wirangi was approached by a model agent in a pharmacy store, she was wearing rugby shorts and had never walked in high heels.

"I was buying perfume for my best friend's birthday back in New Zealand," she says.

The 20-year-old had caught the eye of model agent Phoenix Michael Darley, who frequented the Melbourne shopping centre where she worked.

"I noticed him staring at me and I was like, what do I have on my face?," she says.

They were both shopping when he decided to ask her if she had ever thought about modelling.

"I got a chance to see the symmetry of her face, her height and her body shape and everything when I was there, and I thought I've got to approach her, she's amazing," he says.

"Her face makes people think, she's unusual, she's really interesting.

"I see a canvas that numerous designers could transform."

At first, Makeda thought it was a scam.

But it wasn't long before the self-declared tomboy was swapping her brother's clothes for stilettos and practising her runway strut on the family's Taylors Lake driveway.

Two weeks later she was on her way to New York Fashion Week under her new model name, Keda.

A girl from humble beginnings, Makeda had left school by the age of 16 and was working in Burger King and a fish and chip store before finding work in retail.

Makeda Soper-Wirangi© Facebook/Kerri-anne Soper Makeda Soper-Wirangi
Her working class parents moved to Australia from New Zealand in 2013 with their four children.

"They wanted a better life for us," Makeda says.

"You can't really do much in New Zealand. There's hardly any jobs, so it's just hard."

Neither of them ever thought their daughter would have the opportunity to travel the world as an international model.

Her dad was in tears. And her mother was filled with excitement.

"I am just blown away," her mother Donna says. "I'm so happy for her."

Makeda has now had her first taste of the fashion world.

In New York, she spent several days walking around the city until after dark, meeting dozens of casting agents for different designers.

While it was difficult to overcome homesickness on her first major trip away from family, she landed four runway shows.

"They were awesome, I loved their outfits, something I never saw myself wearing," she says.

One day she'd like to walk for Victoria's Secret.

But having been brought up in a household focused on the importance of family, more than anything she hopes to support them one day.

"My dream is to tell my mum you can quit, I can support you for the rest of your living life now," she says.

With interest from agencies in Europe, places like Paris and Milan are now on the not so distant horizon.

Her next trip will be to New Zealand, where she hopes to be able to make her extended family proud.

"My mum's tribe is Tainui/Te Aroha and my dad's tribe is Ngati Awa/Whakatohhea," she says.

"Our tribes that we come from will support us. And they will tell everybody, there's this girl that lives in Australia that's been doing modelling, so it's kind of good for my people back home."

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