It’s an event that has become as much a part of the Telstra Perth Fashion Festival as the runway shows.

And the Chic Model Search may have found its newest star in Montana Jackson. The 17-year-old beat five other finalists at Fashion Central in Forrest Place.

Aiming to discover Perth’s freshest new male and female models, the search previously helped launch the careers of Nicole Trunfio and Gemma Ward.

As part of her prize, Jackson won a trip to Sydney, a one-year contract with Chic Model Management and the opportunity to meet with top global agency Next Model Management.

The Ellenbrook teen said her dad encouraged her to enter. “I really hope I can go further in modelling because I have always been interested but I had just never pursued it, ” Jackson said.

TPFF face and international model Caitlin Lomax, who won the search several years ago, returned this year as a judge along with festival director Mariella Harvey-Hanrahan and Chic general manager Paul Thomas.

Lomax said choosing a winner was hard but she was impressed by Jackson.

“Her face is incredible. She was a standout, ” Lomax said. “You get a good feeling when you see her.”

© The West Australian

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