‘I haven’t been on the runway for five years’: Elyse Knowles stuns on Myer catwalk

IT’S been five years since she strutted a catwalk but The Block star turned heads as she modelled for Myer and revealed her unusual preparation.

REALITY star Elyse Knowles has made her runway return, strutting for department store Myer.

The Block winner, 25, appeared on the catwalk tonight in two shows for the retail giant as part of Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival, showing off her toned figure at Myer’s Bourke St store.

The Instagram star, who has more than 870,000 followers, walked alongside Myer ambassador Kris Smith.

Elyse Knowles on her return to the runway. Picture: Lucas Dawson.

The renovater said she had been practising at home. Picture: Lucas Dawson

With Kris Smith. Picture: Lucas Dawson

Model Knowles said she prepared for her runway return after a five-year break by practising her “walk” in the hallway at home.

“I haven’t been on the runway for about five years,” Knowles said.

“It is a bit nerve-racking but I love being put out of my comfort zone because that’s how you grow.

“I was practising in my hallway,” Knowles said, referring to the Melbourne “fixer upper” she has moved into with her boyfriend, Block co-star Josh Barker.

“I’ve just moved into a new place and the moment and it’s a bulldoze material, so the hallway is a bit wonky,” she said.

“I’ve been practising in different shoes, up and down.”

Her heel of choice? “I prefer a bit of a chunkier heel,” Knowles said.

“It’s a bit more stable ... plus, you never know what the ground is going to be like — it might be slippery.”

In Myer’s winter range. Picture: Lucas Dawson

Myer staged two shows tonight as part of its VAMFF Style Series — one showcasing Australian designers including Misha Collection, sass & bide and Asilio, and a second with street style looks, including from Nana Judy.

And with a starring role in Myer’s autumn/winter ’18 campaign, will Knowles become the retailer’s next ambassador?

“If the opportunity came up, that would be amazing,” Knowles said.

“It’s something I have worked towards for a very long time ... but I’m literally going day by day at the moment because it’s very busy.

“Whatever comes up, comes up. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”

Picture: Lucas Dawson.

Before the show Myer shared scenes on Instagram. Picture: Elyse Knowles/Instagram

Apart from her modelling career, Knowles and her long-time boyfriend Barker are also busy renovating their new home in Melbourne.

“I don’t think I will ever be able to move into a fully finished home ever in my life,” Knowles laughed.

“Josh is a perfectionist, so we’re better off just buying an old home and renovating it again, and that’s what we’re doing now.”

She said the couple — who won last year’s series of Nine’s DIY reno show The Block — weren’t concerned about the increased interest in their personal lives, particularly by the paparazzi.

“You’ve just got to ignore it and ... if they want to take photos they can,” Knowles said.

“I’ve been doing modelling for such a long time. Of course, it’s all sparked up from the show ... I’m making the most of every moment.”