Fashion's freshest faces: Kawani

Kawani, 16, is the first profile in a series of Honey shoots introducing the new wave of Australian models.

For Kawani Yumi Prenter, fashion is in the blood.

"My mum is crazy about fashion, she loves dressing me," Kawani told the Manly Daily. "Even my dad is conscious about what he wears sometimes."

But she has more to thank her parents for than just style.

"At 14 she already stood at 5'9''," says IMG Model Manager Simone Hellicar. "Along with her exotic looks, Kawani was a perfect fit for the industry."

"Her heritage is Japanese, Brazilian, Irish and Australian, which contributes to the wide range of diversity in talent that IMG represents."

The former St Luke’s Grammar School student already has a swathe of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia shows to her name, including Carla Zampatti, Galanni, Alice McCall, Steven Khalil, Gary Bigeni and Bec & Bridge (the last of which she opened, moving her proud grandmother in the audience to tears).

She also boasts a truly Australian discovery story and one befitting a Narrabeen native: she was scouted by IMG Models while at a friend's barbecue.

In other words, she has all the hallmarks of a promising fashion export, and it seems the international industry agrees.

"Her unique look has caught the eye of photographers and casting directors, who are always looking out for a new face that can emulate the look of the season as well as remain timeless," says Hellicar.

Watch this space.
 

Photographer: Max Doyle
Stylist: Naomi Smith
Model: Kawani/IMG
Make-up: Naomi McFadden for MAC Cosmetics/Union Management
Hair: Daren Borthwick/The Artist Group
Stylist’s assistant: Elle McClure
Words: Anne Fullerton
Video: David Gannon

Get to know Kawani Prenter in the video below