Kiani Johnson set to take on New York Fashion Week

At just 12 years of age, competitive swimmer Kiani Johnson is ready to take a dive into the world of high fashion on the New York runways.

A 12-year-old schoolgirl from Sydney, Kiani Johnson, has been scouted to model in New York Fashion Week. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Nothing scares 12-year-old model Kiani Johnson.

The Woolooware student told The Daily Telegraph she’s been practising walking in heels, ahead of her debut at New York Fashion Week next month.

Johnson is one of 20 young Australian models who were selected by gown designers Belle Le Chic to showcase local talent on the world stage.

The girls will fly to Hawaii to shoot a campaign, then onto the Big Apple – where their faces will feature on billboards in Times Square.

Her runway career is just two years in the making, but Johnson’s mum said the confidence her daughter has gained is enormous.

Sydney schoolgirl, Kiani Johnson, 12, in Cronulla. She has been invited to model in New York Fashion Week next week. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“We didn’t know much about modelling,” Kim Johnson said of when Kiani was approached by an agency.

“So, as parents, we were nervous about it. But it came naturally to her, and she really wanted to do it.”

Johnson is a competitive swimmer and surf life saver. She started modelling two years ago. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“She gets more nervous in a big swim race.”

When she’s not posing for the cameras, Johnson is in the surf. She competes in surf live saving for Wanda Surf Club, and has already won a state gold medal for Nippers swimming.

“I’ve been swimming for my whole life,” Kiani said. “It’s meant to be every day, but usually only four times a week. We have to get up at 4.30 in the morning.”

Then on weekends, she’s working as a ball girl for South Districts Rugby Club.

The 12-year-old says she does modelling for the fun of it and because she gets to spend so much time with her model friends. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“We put everything down as experience,” Mrs Johnson said. “The more, the better.

“I’ve loved just seeing her grow and not be scared of anything, even walking out in front of a thousand-person crowd.”

However, she’s careful to manage her daughter’s Instagram, which has more than 18,000 followers, on her behalf.

Social media is a tricky thing for any parent to navigate, Mrs Johnson added, but the size of Kiani’s following means they have to be especially careful.

Modelling is something Johnson wants to keep doing as she gets older, and she couldn’t be more excited for her trip.

“Everything is going to be so fun,” she said.

And as for New York? The one landmark she really wants to see is “the M&M store”.