The 20th annual model casting for New Zealand Fashion Week is set to take place at the Cordis Hotel on the 7th August, with the freshest faces in the modelling industry expected to attend. 

In its 20th year, New Zealand Fashion Week will once again place a big focus on ensuring diversity and inclusion, and the organisation will continue to appoint racially diverse, plus-size, transgender, and disabled models where possible. 

More than 200 top models will be cast across the schedule of Zealand Fashion Week and Weekend Shows and will have their chance to impress designers from labels such as Kate Sylvester, Campbell Luke, Hailwood and Zambesi. 

Dame Pieter Stewart, Founder of New Zealand Fashion Week, says the annual model casting signals that the countdown to New Zealand Fashion Week is well and truly on.

“We are about to celebrate our 20th anniversary and it’s wonderful to see the strides we’ve made when it comes to diversity and inclusion on the runway. This year we’re once again focused on ensuring the runways will be representative of all New Zealanders and I’m looking forward to see what new faces get snapped up.” 

After making their NZFW debut in 2019, All for All models, Rebecca Dubber, Olivia Shivas, Hannah Moore, Sophia Malthus and Amelia Eades are anticipated to attend along with a range of several new faces including Shakti Krishnan and Mamie Rose MacDonald, who’ve been part of many campaigns this year, including for US Giant, Global Brands Group. 

“2019 was the first year that NZFW included disabled models and we are so pleased that this inclusion will continue this year,” says Grace Stratton, Director of All is for All. 

“Our agency has extended to include a wide range of disabilities and experiences of disability. We are so proud to see how far everyone has come in such a short time and NZFW has been a catalyst for this.” 

Kiwi model NOAH, who is receiving a lot of hype, international attention and named rising star by models.com, will make his NZFW debut. In another first, IQRA will be the first hijabi model, to walk the runaway at NZFW. Ruby Pedersen, who was in Europe before the pandemic hit, is a new modelling superstar and considered by IMG to be the next Georgia Fowler. 

Ursula Dixon, scout and booker for Unique Models, says New Zealand Fashion Week is a highlight for the national modelling industry. 

“The industry has come a long way and it is fantastic to see the 20th edition of NZFW continuing to advocate for greater diversity inclusion on the runway. It’s also great to have some our top models at home this year so they can participate in NZFW.” 

Some of the top models set to attend casting include: 

• Penny Pickard, who has modelled for many years and the original sister for Kate Sylvester’s Sisters label 
• Top curve model, Isabella Moore, Opera star and plus-size modelling advocate 
• Shaneel Lal, non-binary trans model and activist for the LGBTQIA+ community in NZ 
• Annabel Liddell, punk princess, and lead singer of the band Miss June