Samantha Harris may live in the glamorous world of modelling, but behind the scenes she likes to keep things casual.
"I love dressing up and being in that world, but I feel most myself when I'm just casual," Samantha said.
Samantha, who is one of Australia's top models, graces the spring issue of the Newcastle-based Facon magazine. In the edition, labelled "The Newcastle Style Issue", she writes about her past, present and dreams for the future.
Samantha, 29, was the first Indigenous model to represent Australia on the world stage. She first hit the headlines at age 13 when she won the "Girlfriend Covergirl" competition.
"I didn't think that much about it at the time [being a trailblazer for Indigenous modelling]," she told Topics.
"Heaps of articles came out but, at the end of the day, I was still a child. Now I look back, I'm very proud of myself.
"I feel like I paved the way for other young Indigenous kids - being a role model in some way for them to follow their dreams, whatever they may be."
Samantha will be a guest judge in Facon's competition to find Newcastle's next model. The winner will become the "next face of Facon".
She'll also act as a mentor for the winner, which will be announced at a runway show at Westfield Kotara on October 12.
Facon editor Lara Lupish said having Sam as a mentor would be a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".
"Samantha is a true professional and has remained at the top of her game, spanning a career of more than 15 years," Lara said.
Samantha admits that being in a world that constantly puts her image on display can create doubts.
"Everyone doubts themselves in life at some point," she said.
"I doubt myself sometimes, just like any other person. Am I fit enough? Do people still like me, as I've been in the industry for so long?
"This shows that I care and I'm really passionate about my job and I want to be the best I can be."
Social media can amplify the focus on image.
"You see all these beautiful pictures, but it's not realistic. People are just showing the glamorous side of their life or their really good side," she said.
"I live in a glamorous world but, at the end of the day, I go home and I've got stuff to do. I go back to normal Samantha, I do the washing and stuff like that."
Happy Wattle Day!
Spring is almost here. Yay! The long, cold winter of our discontent is over [you'd think we live in Greenland or something].
What happens on the first day of spring? Why it's National Wattle Day, of course. It's Father's Day, too. But let's get our priorities right. Why not combine the two?
The Wattle Day Association has some useful suggestions about how to celebrate National Wattle Day. They include greeting each other with "happy Wattle Day", wearing a sprig of wattle or Australia's colours of green and gold, going for a walk to enjoy wattles in flower around your garden, suburb, bush or arboretum and having a picnic or barbecue with family and friends.
So, when you see your dad on Sunday, wish him a happy Father's Day and happy Wattle Day. Then take him for a stroll through your local arboretum while you both wear your Australian football shirts. On the way home, stop at the chemist for some antihistamine tablets.
