The Intelligencer - Belleville, Ontario
July 2010

Young Model Wants A Billboard

W. Brice McVicar

Hannah R. wants to see her face on a billboard and the five year old is doing what she can to achieve that goal.

Modelling for the past year, Hannah recently won for her age group at the 2010 Canadian Model & Talent Convention in Toronto. Her victory, and subsequent meetings with modelling agencies, will hopefully open doors to more modelling, television and maybe even films.

"She's been doing it for about a year now and she's had photoshoots to build her portfolio," mom Debra-Ann said.

Hannah initially began modelling at the age of three but stopped for a short time and resumed last year. It began as an opportunity to boost her confidence so, Debra-Ann said, Hannah would not grow up to be a shy child, a problem Debra-Ann said she struggled with throughout her youth.

Add to that her daughter's natural smile and love for the camera and you've got a perfect candidate for modelling.

"There was just something about her since she was born that I thought she had potential to go somewhere and do something," Debra-Ann said.

She's not along in that view as Hannah has already signed with a top Toronto modelling agency and will soon meet with representatives from FunnyFace Today in New York City. Both agencies were in attendance at the Toronto convention and expressed interest in representing the little girl.

Debra-Ann said though her daughter's enjoying modelling right now, she has no worries about her losing interest and pursuing something else as she grows older. In fact, she said, if Hannah decides that modelling isn't her thing that's fine.

"I'm not going to the stage mom," she said. "Whatever she does, I just want her to have fun. I don't want to be your stereotypical mom pushing her ... She's still just a kid and there are other things she's going to find in her life."

But, for now, Hannah said she enjoys the modelling and trying on the different clothes when she's photographed.

"I like myself in all the dresses and clothes," Hannah said. "I'd like to be on billboards. I want to be everywhere!"