For Simone Hamlin, the modelling world came calling when one day she skipped school to hang out with her friends at Albany Mall, and was scouted at the age of 14 by Ursula Dixon in the food court of McDonalds. With overwhelming support from family, friends and even strangers at school, Hamlin emailed Dixon and a few months later signed with Clyne. Now 21, she is still just as much in love with the industry and has visited some of the most beautiful places both in New Zealand and abroad.
“I feel like every time I get a modelling job; it’s a big achievement. Even though I’ve been doing it for so long I’m still humbled by the fact that I was scouted so young and given the opportunity,” said Dixon. Among her accomplishments is booking New Zealand Fashion Week for three consecutive years from 2010 to 2013, with her first year seeing the young model land 19 shows and walk for big name designers including Zambesi, Kathryn Wilson, Ruby, Trelise Cooper, Stolen Girlfriends Club, and Karen Walker to name a few.
As an American citizen, she is open to pursuing work in L.A. and New York while looking at opportunities in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Milan. Travel is in Hamlin’s bones, taking a two year long overseas working holiday on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Here she experienced the way fashion changes with culture, noticing the Californian and surf industry influence on everyday designs. While she knows modelling is not always a life-long career, Hamlin is excited to be working a job that can take her around the world. The goal is to experience all walks of life to develop a well-rounded view of the world, something she feels is important to have if she wants to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. “I don’t want to go straight into teaching the next generation when I hadn't myself gone out and experienced life outside of a classroom.”
