Model's bid for top title

SUNSHINE Coast model Damara Graham is a finalist in the search for Australia's ultimate sports model.

Mooloolaba sales assistant Damara Graham, 19, is a finalist in the search for Australia’s ultimate sports model. (185004). Picture: Kari Bourne

BUDDING fashion designer Damara Graham will find out what it's like on the other side of the catwalk as a finalist in the search for Australia's ultimate sports model.

The Mooloolaba 19-year-old hopes to be named the 2009 TW Steel Miss SuperGP on the Gold Coast after beating several other hopefuls in the final heat at the Rolling Rock Nightclub recently.

Damara said she was surprised when she won.

“I had no idea, I just wanted to get out there and make the most of the opportunity,” she said.

Damara will join up to 39 other finalists from Australia and New Zealand for 10 days of activities and judging while staying at Paradise Island Resort.

Each finalist will undergo four judging sessions - photographic, swimwear, sportswear and the “dreaded” interview section, with the ultimate winner receiving over $40,000 in cash and prizes and gracing the cover of the TW Steel Miss SuperGP calendar.

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Damara will be wearing one of her own creations for the evening wear section - a daisy-yellow chiffon number with a bejewelled shoulder feature.

“It will be really good exposure for my work,” she said.

Damara has dabbled in modelling before, but is new to the pageant scene and said she had developed a liking for it.

“The other girls are really supportive and nice,” she said.

Although nervous about the final, Damara said she will give it her all and see what happens.

“The other girls are so pretty, but I'm just going to be myself.”

“Either way it's going to be a lot of fun.”

Originally published as Model's bid for top title