The 17-year-old confidently strode the catwalk at the Berlin fashion shows in recent weeks.

Her modelling debut in Germany was made possible by CORE Artist Management, run by Paul James Hay.

Mr Hay is the son of Robyn te Velde, who is the driving force behind the Highlights on Mental Health fundraising campaign for the Light & Hope Mental Health Clubhouse.

Ms Jones has already been booked for an international autumn campaign in London, Paris, Milan and New York.

As an ambassador for Illawarra's Top Model competition, she is also a role model for more than 100 entrants.

Mrs te Velde said it was great for aspiring young Illawarra models entering the competition to see what was possible to achieve.

Final entries are being taken next Tuesday at the Novotel from 6.30pm and online at highlightsonmentalhealth until August 25.

"They must be able to raise the $500 by the 25th of August," Mrs te Velde said.

Tuesday's information evening will give entrants tips on fundraising, as well as modelling tuition from Paula McMannus and Jessica Pinkerton. The first two heats are on September 5 and September 12 in upper Crown Street Mall, where entrants may even get the chance to meet Ms Jones.

She is doing exactly what the winner of Illawarra's Top Model might get to do when they earn a contract with Mr Hay at the model management agency in Germany.

Mrs te Velde was in her late 20s enjoying an international hairdressing career when Mr Hay was born. Her career had taken her to the United States and Europe. Working under the name Robyn David she won gold, silver and bronze medals at the world championships of hairdressing in Paris in 1974 and New York in 1976.

She also ran a thriving salon with 26 employees in Crown Street, Wollongong. Mr Hay was four years of age when a national appointment as L'Oreal Paris Australia's fashion stylist and creative director required his mum to make regular visits to Paris and other fashion capitals of the world.

So it was no surprise to her when he became a model himself.

"It was here he found his niche, building his career as a model and living all over the world," Mrs te Velde said.

He went on to become a fashion photographer for one of Europe's largest agencies and started managing agency departments.

Mr Hay is now chief executive of CORE Artist Management.

Hamburg is home but he also has a second agency in Berlin.

He regularly returns to Australia to scout for models and work on the show.