Another Christchurch model wins N.Z. ‘Face of the 80s’

Press, 6 November 1984, Page 6

Another Christchurch model wins N.Z. ‘Face of the 80s’

The New Zealand “Face of the 80s” title has again been won by a Christchurch model. Gina Olliver, aged 21, is the second consecutive model from Pieter’s Model Agency to gain the title. Last year it was won by Kirsty Lay. This is the second year the competition has been .run in New Zealand. Miss Olliver started modelling about a year ago when she “got up the nerve” to go into the agency. Her

work so far has been in magazine and newspaper fashion features. Earlier this year she had a twomonth contract with an agency in Tokyo. Although modelling is not full-time in New Zealand as it is overseas, she makes enough to survive between assignments. The work is different from what she was doing previously. Until she went to the agency, she worked as a general hand, cooking and doing outdoor work, on a station at Arthur’s Pass. “I have been very fortunate. I came in at the right time, when they were searching for that certain look,” said Miss Olliver. “I have also been very fortunate that I’ve got so far in such a short time,” she said. Pieter’s v entered five models in this year’s contest, which was again run by the New Zealand Women’s Weekly. Miss Olliver will fly to New York for fittings for the clothing she will wear on the “Face of the 80s” television special. Twentyfpur models from 24 countries will appear on the show in a world final. The winner will receive a three-year modelling contract with the Ford Model Agency in New York, with a guaranteed first-year income of $250,000. The Ford agency will also give yearlong modelling contracts to those with “the look” they are seeking. Kirsty Lay did not win last year’s international competition but got a con-

tract with the agency. This year she is modelling in Europe. Miss Olliver said that although the clothes for the show were provided, she still had to find “a couple of evening dresses” for other occasions. She is not apprehensive about the trip because she has been to. the United States before. Her mother was pleased to hear about her win and, as she is in the United States, she is trying to arrange tickets to the show. Miss Olliver said that if she did not win the contest and did not get a contract with the agency, she would go to Australia. “There is a big market in Australia — lots of competition but it is full-time work,” she said. Ms Jennifer Pettitt, of Pieter’s Model Agency, said that the agency was excited to have produced two winners in a row.

“We’re very proud of our girls. We always felt that Gina had excellent potential from the minute she walked in the door,” she said. Mr Billy Ford, of the New York agency, had come to New Zealand to judge the models and had spoken to the five entered by Pieter’s. Last year, he interviewed only the finalists. “He said he was very impressed with the fresh look of the South Island girls. It made us feel less like the country cousins,” said Ms Pettitt. The South Island models had had the “look” wanted, which was “fresh, wideeyed, with a strong jaw, tiptilted nose, and a nice mouth. All those things that make a photogenic face,” she said. The Ford agency is said to be one of the best in the United States and has on its files many of the “Vogue” models and actresses, including Brooke Shields.