Model comes home from glittering career

Press, 29 June 1983, Page 8

Model comes home from glittering career

In vogue

Paula Ryan

International modelling today is probably one of the most highly paid professions a girl can enter, especially if she reaches the top of the business. Top models can earn $2OOO a day, and reach international stardom. New Zealand model, Kirsteen Price, has returned home after several years as a model in international demand. Her return however, was not part of a modelling assignment, but to marry her Christchurch boyfriend, John Britten. Severl weeks ago, looking the model bride, she went up the aisle as Mrs Britten with no regrets about leaving her jet-set life behind. I first met Kirsteen as a quiet, almost shy, schoolgirl. She was tall, slim, and blond, with an interest in fashion. Her after-school activities often involved working on small modelling assignments. Today, Kirsteen is self assured, with an underlying sense of international professionalism although she stil retains the feminine charm that has obviously been a part of her popularity. Her success has developed through hard work, good luck and an element of determination. Her career stated when in 1979 she left Christchurch

for London. There, in the depths of winter, without work, friends suggested she consider photographic modelling. From various contacts she was granted an interview. It was necessary for her to be taller then sft Bin and be under 20. Kirsteen was sft lOin, and a keen, 19-year-old. Her first instructions were to reshape her figure, hair, and teeth. Her agency arranged for hair cut and dentistry (even paid for the latter). The slimming programme was up to her. Working for a time in London meant making valuable contacts, learning the skills of makeup and movement, and provided a gentle easing into the later more demanding centres of modelling. After working with English “Vogue” and other London based glossies, her agency felt she was ready for seasonal work in Paris. France was harder. Kirsteen spent many days, even weeks, calling on clients, walking the city to meet with magazine editors, photographers and advertising agencies. These were her most difficult months. Although some work came in, the French are renowned for their intiial hesitation in hiring a “new face,” a “new look.”

And when you’re that much a “new face,” it’s tough. Her lucky break came when the fashion editor of top magazine, “Marie Clair,” selected her for a location fashion shoot. It was off to Morocco, which proved to the leaping point of her career. “Marie Clair” is a big circulation magazine, and this exposure proved its value. Within weeks, Kirsteen was in demand for French and Italian “Vogues.” Now she began to see her career doors opening, and it was at this point that she viewed modelling as her serious career. Her work became profitable, which in turn forced the emergence of Kirsteen, the business woman. Many of her regular, sea-sonly-sound, and well paid assignments involved

modelling for European catalogues. Such work (although less glamorous) is higher paid than fashion magazine editorial work. However, a French base in photographic modelling terms is not considered the ultimate. So her agent sent this “in demand” lady to New York. Breaking into the New York scene was far easier than Paris, as by now Kirsteen had established a world-wide reputation. Assignments poured in. Some weeks she lost count of the days, seeing little of her apartment and more of airports and hotels — moving from warm to cool climates almost without warning. Kirsteen Price has worked with the world’s top rated photographers, including Hans Feurer, David Bailey, Sacha, aand Friedman Hauss. Many of her international friends are also models. She has been a cover girl many times. Even as we fingered through the pages of current French and Italian “Vogues,” her gleaming face looked back at us. She also features on the cover and in the editorial fashions of the June Australian “Vogue.” Nevertheless — this lean, leggy lady views each published assignment with the criticism of a self-developed professional.

Not always totally satisfied with her picture, striving to improve even further, she always has her two feet firmly planted on the ground. This month Kirsteen is going on a fashion shoot, nearer home — travelling with Air Pacific to Fiji. There she will model designer clothes with top New Zealand model, Maree Pannell, for the spring issue of New Zealand’s “Fashion in New Zealand” magazine. For hopeful would-be models wishing to embark on modelling, Kirsteen gives this advice. “Give it all you’ve got. Never stop trying. That big beak may be just around the corner.” Ironically, as Kirsteen Price returned home, another 20-year-old, Kirsty Lay (there must be magic in the name) won the Woman’s Weekly “Face of the 80s” for New Zealand, and has also been given her break to possible international success. With contracts in hand, Kirsty Lay, a willowy blond, will be working under another professional wing. That of Mew York’s dynamic models’ agent, Eilleen Ford. Much to the pride of Pieter’s Model Agency in Nev/ Zealand, Kirsty Lay looks forward to entering the same demanding, but exciting fashion world that launched Kirsteen Price.