TEEN Nikeisha Richardson was the talent the judges were looking for.
The Year 12 All Saints Anglican School student competed against 69 other teenage models at the $100,000 Opal Fashion Bash '08 in Townsville earlier this month.
The 16-year-old caught the eye of the judges, both with her beauty and her clothing designs.
Nikeisha was recognised as the most outstanding model, teenage model of the year and placed third in the best dressed surf-swimwear category.
As well as her successes on the catwalk, Nikeisha took out third place in the best tropical resort wear for her designs.
"I think it was good experience to get my name out there in the modelling industry," she said.
"It was also lots of fun going up there with the girls from school, our teacher and my mum."
When her name was called, Nikeisha said she wasn't paying attention because she had no expectations about the event.
"All of a sudden everyone was looking at me and I couldn't work out why," she said.
For her efforts Nikeisha won a seven-night holiday, a five-day Tamblyn Models course, an opal necklace and bracelet, a $300 cheque and a modelling contract.
The talented teen encouraged others to enter in similar contests to boost their confidence.
"You have no idea what the judges are looking for and so you just have to do it your way and hope they pick you," she said.
"I entered one of my designs in another competition and I spent so much time on it and didn't win.
"I was discouraged but decided to give the Fashion Bash a go and I ended up doing well so I learned not to give up."
Several other All Saints students flew home from the competition with prizes, including Angela Walsh and Anna McMillan, who came first and second respectively in the best hand-drawing section.
Their teacher, Kill Shehab, was not to be outdone by the students, winning the voters' prize for the most outstanding computer-generated drawing.
