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By: Christine Blais
Kingston Whig-Standard
Hockey and horses may soon give way to high fashion for Kingston's Remy H.
The athletic 14 year old, fresh from an impressive showing at the Canadian Model & Talent Convention, signed a one year contract with a Toronto-based modelling agency last week with the hopes that it will lead to a career as an international high fashion model.
"That's one of my goals," said the Grade 8 student at R.G. Sinclair Public School. "I love looking at the high-fashion models. They have lots of different looks. They're trendsetters."
Herrington finished first overall among more than 50 girls in the division of 12 to 15 year olds at the Toronto competition last month and drew interest from 18 agencies. "Some of the agents said I was a prospect for high fashion," said Remy, a blue eyed blonde who stands five foot nine. "Remy is tall and looks older than 14," said her mother, Alison.
Remy won the cover competition, was first runner up in the photography competition and second runner up in the runway competition in Toronto.
Last week, Remy and her parents signed a one-year modelling contract with a top Toronto modelling agency which will try to land her work in print ads and tv commercials. "It's pretty cool," said Remy. "I know a girl who models with them and she gets a lot of catalogue work."
"This is great," said her mother. "It's always been a little girl's dream to become a model." Three years ago, a friend urged Remy to start taking classes at Mode Elle Model & Talent Agency in Belleville. "I liked it," said Remy, who has modelling in local fashion shows in Kingston. "They said I had talent."
Those classes, she said, led her to success at the Toronto event. She competed for the first time in 2009, but left disappointed. "I wasn't prepared that well," she said. "I got lots of feedback and I worked on it as hard as I could." It was important for the aspiring model to return to the competition, said her mother.
"We met some of the agents last year and you have to keep your face out there," said Alison. "If they're still interested in you when you are 16, that's when you go international."
When she's not modelling, Remy is active in sports. She plays hockey in the Greater Kingston Ice Wolves girls association, finished fourth in triple jump at an elementary school track and field meet last Wednesday and is preparing for her first equestrian competition of the season at the end of this month.
"I set my priorities," said Remy. "School has to come first, then modelling, horseback riding and the rest of my team sports." In September, Remy will enter Grade 9 at Regiopolis-Notre Dame in the International Baccalaureate Programme, a curriculum designed to prepare students for the rigorous demands of university.
"It will give more of a chance to get into an international university," said Remy.
In the meantime, Remy said, "I'll stay with it and work hard. I'll keep in shape and practice!" Remy's family and friends are thrilled about her success as a young model. "My friends are happy," said Remy. "They know I've worked on it and they're supportive. My family is beyond happy! They are really proud of me."
