Landmark moment for Australian modelling as dual winners announced
An Australian modelling competition has managed to accomplish two firsts for the industry — crowning dual winners of the top prize, with one of them being nonbinary.
Confidential
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It is the changing face of fashion – dual winners have taken out the top prize in Australia’s most inclusive modelling competition.
Non-binary model Neon Fan, from Sydney, and Melbourne cybersecurity student Alysia Salley have jointly won the 2022 Bella Unsigned competition.
“I haven’t seen any models addressed as a non-binary person so I assume it is a first,” Fan, 21, who is studying music at Sydney University, told The Daily Telegraph.
“Being able to have someone to look up to is important. This is the future … the future is inclusivity, diversity, accepting all cultures and being happy and enjoying the moment.”
The pair were chosen from the hundreds of applicants to have entered the competition that has previously launched the careers of some of our rising stars in the industry including Onella Muralidharan, Nyanyuob Dau and Zoe Donne.
They have secured representation with Bella Management, a pioneer agency for diversity and inclusion in Australia, as well as a full portfolio.
Salley measures 178cm tall and is a size 10, born to a Greek mother and a West African father.
“I have struggled with identity issues, coming from two very different culturally rich backgrounds,” she said.
“When you are younger, it is important to see figures in the media that look like you and I felt like I didn’t see anyone that looked like me. It is really exciting for the future to be able to represent.”
All contestants in the top six of the competition featured in a runway as part of Melbourne Fashion Week.
The other four, Lily Kynion, Dunya Mudesir, Kritica Choudhary and Matinah Ram, have all also been signed to Bella.
“Inclusivity is about including those who might otherwise be excluded or marginalised due to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio- economic status, age, physical abilities and religion,” Bella Management founder Chelsea Bonner said.
“We have such unique talent in this country, and I’m so thrilled that our model search continues to unearth some of Australia’s best talent and launch many successful modelling careers.”
* Jonathon Moran was a judge in the competition and travelled to Melbourne as a guest of Bella Management. Other judges include Nicky Briger, Alison Brahe-Daddo, Jules Robinson, Maria Thattil, Geo Burke and Elise Massis.
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