The multi-talented idealist Tiffany Toni Maitin (17) shared her success story with the Record earlier this week.
She walked in with a bag filled with trophies that she received at a talent showcase recently in Orlando, Florida.
She received many awards along with awesome prizes and was named Best female fashion model for 2013.
Tiffany also managed to excel in the three categories of fashion, swimwear and photography.
“I am driven mostly by passion. I love clothing and I aspire to be one of the highest paid models in the United States.”
Although Tiffany was born and raised in Johannesburg, she has set goals that will take her far beyond the borders of her home.
“In the beginning I was sceptic about the idea, but when her father said we should give it a go, I decided to put my faith in God and trust my daughter to be responsible in her attempts to pursue her dream, because I know that she is a good girl,” said her mother Beulah Maitlin.
Tiffany had her first taste of modelling at the age of only five months for a range of television commercials, mostly retail.
She told the Record that as a little girl all she wanted to do was to model and travel the world, but because of a lack of opportunity, she made school her top priority. Now with her school career almost behind her, her schedule is more flexible and she can make more time for modelling.
Tiffany said that the competition in Orlando, Florida was her first as she never before entered competitions to gain exposure.
Beulah who expressed her pride in Tiffany as the interview progressed, said, “I don’t encourage my daughters to enter competitions because I don’t want them working under any form of pressure”.
Not only is Tiffany representing her hometown of Roodepoort but also South Africa when she relocates to New York in December 2014 for a partial scholarship at the New York Film Academy. She will be working with Tyler Perry and many other established personalities in the entertainment industry.
Tiffany is very excited about leaving the country. Having Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks and Candice Swanepoel as icons to look up to, this girl definitely will go far.
