South Surrey teen model Annika Van Vliet is no stranger to the spotlight, and it香蕉视频直播檚 about to get a whole lot brighter.

At 15, Annika has posed for numerous photo shoots, given television interviews and walked fashion-week runways in both Vancouver and Toronto 香蕉视频直播� activities she only began dipping her toe into about a year ago.

On Saturday (Sept. 9), she香蕉视频直播檒l shine in the Big Apple, with her photo among 500 to be featured in a jumbotron video presentation in New York香蕉视频直播檚 Times Square launching the 2023 Buddy Walk, an annual event to raise awareness for Down syndrome in the U.S.

But Annika香蕉视频直播檚 brightest moment so far is yet to come, and one many aspiring models can only dream of: walking the runway for Paris Fashion Week.

The prestigious affair香蕉视频直播檚 autumn/winter edition is set for Sept. 25 to Oct. 2, with Annika香蕉视频直播檚 moment on the runway at Le Bristol Paris hotel to come on Oct. 1.

Walking with La Belle magazine 香蕉视频直播� a publication, according to labellkidz.com, 香蕉视频直播渇or the trendsetting and style-savvy child香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� she香蕉视频直播檚 been training for the experience since first learning she香蕉视频直播檇 been chosen for it a couple of months ago.

She doesn香蕉视频直播檛 yet know what she香蕉视频直播檒l be wearing, but when it comes to what香蕉视频直播檚 expected of her, she knows to look straight ahead, do 香蕉视频直播渢he walk香蕉视频直播� and pause for a three-second pose in either direction when she reaches the runway香蕉视频直播檚 end before walking back.

While full of shy giggles and blushing during a FaceTime chat with Peace Arch News Thursday (Sept. 7), Annika comes into her own in front of a camera, her mom said. Her Instagram page (@annika.jillian) is bursting with examples.

香蕉视频直播淧eople her whole life have told me, 香蕉视频直播榶ou gotta get her into modelling,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� said Lisa, in explaining her daughter香蕉视频直播檚 path to the jumbotron and Paris. 香蕉视频直播淪he was always a poser香蕉视频直播� always been very photogenic and very, like, a ham, so I just threw her in the (modelling) shows.香蕉视频直播�

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Annika, who started Grade 10 at St. John Paul II Academy this week, broke into modelling after being discovered during a June 2022 Glam-Z gala. Approached by three agencies, she ultimately signed on with , an Edmonton-based 香蕉视频直播渄isability-focused talent and media company,香蕉视频直播� and her interest hasn香蕉视频直播檛 wavered, her mom said.

香蕉视频直播淭his kid has been working non-stop ever since,香蕉视频直播� said Lisa.

香蕉视频直播淪he香蕉视频直播檚 15 and she香蕉视频直播檚 just killin香蕉视频直播� it.香蕉视频直播�

Lisa said she and her husband Troy had plenty of time to prepare for the joys and challenges that come with raising a child born with Down syndrome 香蕉视频直播� Annika was diagnosed in-utero, at just 15 weeks into Lisa香蕉视频直播檚 pregnancy.

They did 香蕉视频直播渢ons香蕉视频直播� of therapy with her from the moment she was born and 香蕉视频直播渁lways push her to be her best.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e never subscribed to the 香蕉视频直播榗an香蕉视频直播檛,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� said Lisa.

Annika, she noted, knows she has Down syndrome, but doesn香蕉视频直播檛 let it hold her back. In addition to her modelling, she is currently ambassador for both Canadian Down Syndrome Society and the .

Saturday香蕉视频直播檚 Buddy Walk presentation is to air live from 9:30-10:30 a.m. EST on the . Annika香蕉视频直播檚 photo is scheduled to appear between 10:20-10:30 a.m. EST (7:20-7:30 a.m. local time).