Local faces in hot demand
It must be true what they say when it comes to Perth producing the most top models per capita than any other city in Australia.
More than 5000 budding models applied for the new model reality TV search The Face Australia featuring supermodels Naomi Campbell, Nicole Trunfio and Cheyenne Tozzi as judges and mentors.
AAA Weekend can reveal that making the top 24 are a staggering seven West Australian models.
So in demand are the Perth stunners that in the first episode of the series, Campbell and WA-raised Trunfio have a heated argument over 18-year-old Sarah Tilleke, one of Perth's most promising models, who moved to Sydney to model full-time at the end of her high school studies in 2012.
Campbell walks off the set when Trunfio implies that she would be a better mentor for Tilleke because of her age and knowing what is best for the younger generation.
Sarah Tilleke is in demand. Picture: Foxtel
Other WA models making the show's top 24 are Perth sisters Kiara and Shenika Rule, country girl Ruth Willmer, Miss Universe WA 2014 finalist Anouska Freedman and local modelling star Olivia Donaldson who has recently moved to Sydney for work.
For 25-year-old Swan Valley resident Hayley Parker getting through to the top 24 was bittersweet because it gave her another shot at being a professional model, but also meant she had to leave her newborn baby in Perth.
"I had an opportunity to do modelling in Sydney when I was 18 and I didn't take the opportunity, and after I became a mum I thought I knew what life was all about and had a chance to give it all a go," Parker said.
"You only have one life and I didn't want to get to an age where I had regrets.
"I had this opportunity and I couldn't believe I got through but it was super hard to leave my child, it was heart- wrenching not to be with him because he was such a young baby but to be in front of Naomi Campbell was like a dream come true."
The girls will find out in the first episode, which airs on Foxtel's FOX8 channel at 6pm on March 18, whether they are picked to join one of the supermodels' teams and progress to the final 12.
Popular Perth model Olivia Donaldson has made the top 24. Picture: Foxtel
Albany-based retail assistant and part-time model Willmer said if she made it through to the next round she hoped she would land on the team of fellow WA country girl, Australind- raised superstar Trunfio.
"As soon as I found out Nicole was on the show I was like, 'oh yeah'. I was so excited," Wilmer said with a laugh.
Trunfio will return to Perth to promote the launch of the series on March 17.
WA supermodel Nicole Trunfio is coming to Perth next week to help launch The Face Australia. Picture: Foxtel
