New generation of supermodel found in Windsor

By Kylie Turner

A local model has made the preliminary cuts for the Top Model Search Canada competition.

Katie Jade Durham a 24-year-old Windsorite has been working on her modelling portfolio for three years. Durham said she found out about the TMSC on their Facebook page and went to the open casting call in London last month.  She met the initial qualifications and will be continuing to the next part of the competition in Toronto this summer.

Durham and her fiancé Marc Knuckle have a toddler, and she said, “The majority of what I do is for her, she is a big reason why I do what I do. If it could only get bigger from here I can’t complain.”

Durham works full time at Southwest Customs as well as part time at Exclusive Fashions World Class Boutique. Durham said she has done charity modelling for Bras by Jillish and will be participating in the St. Clair College Fashion Show for the second time this year. She has been featured in online magazines and was in a copy of Imirage magazine.

Durham became interested in the industry after modelling for her friends clothing brand Freekware because she enjoyed the creative freedom.

Ray Akey was one of the first professional photographers to work with her and see her potential. Akey said he has been a photographer since 2003 based in Windsor.

“She was very pleasant to work with from the beginning. She takes directions well and had suggestions with poses,” said Akey. “I think she can go a long way because she has the will and determination.”

Durham said she wants 2017 to be a year of success and trying out for the TMSC competition is an opportunity to connect with several modelling agencies. The TMSC competition goes across the country searching for young women to become Canada’s new generation of supermodels.

“Everyone will have the opportunity to meet local and international agents and possibly get their big break,” according to the TMSC website.  “The winner each year will have the unique opportunity to travel, meet agents, build their portfolio and train with the best.”

The deposit fee for the TMSC is $1,500 plus tax. To help accommodate the expenses, Durham created a GoFundMe page called Top Model Search Canada, for Katie Jade Durham in Windsor, ON. For more details about her modelling career and work see her Facebook page Lady Katie Model.