Why gap-tooth teen Anna Dowling is modelling’s ‘next big thing’

Her first love is playing polo but after being scouted by modelling agents at a music festival last year — largely thanks to her distinctive gap-tooth — Anna Dowling now has the chance to emulate one of her idols - Nacho Figueras.

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She has played polo since the age of eight and when scouted by a modelling agency last year, Anna Dowling’s first thoughts turned to her idol Nacho Figueras.

Figueras is one of the world’s best polo players who is also carving out a career in modelling.

“Polo is definitely the main priority for me but if I could combine it with modelling, that would be really cool,” the 16-year-old Murringo beauty told The Sunday Telegraph.

“I would love to carve out a similar career to Nacho Figueras.

“He was the face of Ralph Lauren for a little while and is an incredible polo player. He is really cool. It would be amazing to be able to do both modelling and have a career as a professional polo player like him.”

Polo player Anna Dowling has been touted as the next ‘big thing’ in modelling. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

Anna was spotted by a modelling scout while at a music festival. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

While it’s early days for Dowling and her modelling portfolio, the teen has been touted as the next big thing by one of Australia’s leading modelling agencies — mainly thanks to her distinguishing gap-tooth and good looks.

Being scouted at a music festival in 2018 came as a surprise for the self branded tomboy, who has never thought of herself as a beauty, thanks to her front tooth gap.

While Dowling wasn’t initially a fan, the nuance a gap-toothed can bring to a brand means she could follow in the footsteps of Aussie model Jessica Hart and industry juggernauts Georgia May Jagger, Lily Alridge and Lara Stone.

“I was at a music festival at the beginning of 2018 and someone came up to me and asked for my details,” she said.

“I was concerned because I thought it was probably just a scam. I certainly wasn’t looking for it, so I didn’t believe it was really happening.

Anna has been playing polo since she was eight. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

Anna’s idol — polo player / model Nacho Figueras.

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“People say now the gap in my tooth is what makes me a good model, which is weird because at first, in my pre-teenage years, I was self conscious about it. A few people made comments about it and so I didn’t really like it. But now I have learnt to like it.

Her agent, Kathy Ward from Chic Management said it is her ‘non perfect teeth’ which will put her on the map.

“Anna is international in every way,” Ward said.

“She has the height and the look and that gap in the tooth which gives her a point of difference and increases her commercially.”

“The gap between her two front teeth, which is actually called, diastema gives her a point of difference and will increase her commerciality.”

Anna who is a champion polo player have been signed as a model with Chic Management. Picture: Supplied

The champion polo player is part of an elite training squad.

Also giving her a unique edge over all other models is her ability to ride a horse.

Dowling become one of the country’s top polo players since first getting on a horse age three.

Dowling was selected in the Australian schools polo team in 2017 age 14 before being selected in the under 21 colts team in 2018 age 15.

The high school boarder was then recruited to Represent Australia in the polo showcase day for the opening of the youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October 2018 and was Awarded an International blazer by her school PLC Sydney for international representation in polo.

Just this year Anna was again selected to play in the under 21 colts team — the only female selected for 2019 — and won ‘most valuable player’.

“I started playing Polo at age seven or eight,” she said.

“Then my first actual game was when I was 12. I just remember loving it so much straight away. I absolutely loved it. I love the fast pace the game is played and how intense it is as well and the adrenaline rush you get.”

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Originally published as Why gap-tooth teen Anna Dowling is modelling’s ‘next big thing’