![TOP MODEL FINALIST: Savannah McDonagh in black full skirted dress from Jam Woman, hair and make-up by Roza Rojano, of Total Bliss. Pictures: Alex Sturman.\](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/tSTP9QYGHQpn75NApSSxni/5154a6e5-e764-4e84-9295-fd4e8ec8c058.jpg/r1147_218_2763_1474_w576_h298_fmax.webp "TOP MODEL FINALIST: Savannah McDonagh in black full skirted dress from Jam Woman, hair and make-up by Roza Rojano, of Total Bliss. Pictures: Alex Sturman.\")
Savannah McDonagh and Lillee Frances are two of the 12 finalists competing for the title of Illawarra’s Top Model 2015 this Saturday in Crown Street Mall.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ms McDonagh, 16, of Corrimal High School, has been on a runaway once before.
She met organiser Robyn te Velde at the Highlights on Mental Health stand in the mall and was impressed and inspired by the cause.
“I had given some thought to modelling in the past but never made any plans,’’ she said.
“I do cheerleading. I am with Air Born in Woonona. We usually compete in Sydney but sometimes we go to Melbourne, the Gold Coast and we are going to Hawaii. I have been doing it since I was two. I have always liked doing it. I’ve been around it my whole life.”
Ms McDonagh has even competed in a team in the United States.
She is not only interested in fitness she would one day like to study and work more in the area of exercise science and physiotherapy.
The competition has been great for the Wollongong teenager who has seen it as a great learning experience.
‘’I have never had tuition like this before,’’ she said.
‘’Robyn has taught me a lot. She has been teaching how to walk properly and all about posture.’’
Ms McDonagh said has also learned more about how significant mental health is as an issue in the community.
She said it had been great to engage in the conversation with people about it as she was raising money for the Light & Hope Mental Health Clubhouse.
Ms Frances, 19, has been travelling from Jervis Bay for rehearsals with Mrs te Velde.
In the process she met, made friends and has been car-pooling with Lucy Marron, of Vincentia.
She said it had been great to get to know someone who lives nearby and make so many friends in a competition where everybody gets along.
‘’I was at uni last year, I deferred for a year and am working full time in hospitality at the moment in a cafe at Jervis Bay,’’ she said.
‘’Last year I was at the University of Wollongong. It is exciting to make top six. I have not modelled before. I was interested when I heard about this being for such a good cause. I thought why not because even if I don’t win I thought the experience would be great.’’
Ms Frances’s family came and supported her in the heat and will again this Saturday in the Mall from Midday.
She said she would definitely like to model in Australia or Europe if such an opportunity arose from Illawarra’s Top Model.
‘’I have really enjoyed learning about walking on the runway and building a lot of confidence in myself in front of people,’’ she said.
