Nadia van der Westhuizen, a 20-year-old firecracker from Jeffreys Bay and model with Ace Models, is not letting her small-town roots hold her back. Instead, with a heart full of dreams and a closet overflowing with high heels, the budding model is set to conquer the international stage in July.
As a young girl, Van Der Westhuizen said she craved the spotlight.
Whether strutting down the hallway of her farmhouse, or scaling trees in dresses and heels, she said she revelled in expressing herself through performance.
Further fuelling her love for modelling, Van Der Westhuizen said that when she was younger her dad, Jan, who enjoyed photography, often did photoshoots at home where she got to pick her best outfit and pose in front of the camera which she absolutely loved.
“I used to have mini fashion shows for my parents every time I got new clothes, because I just loved fashion. I used every opportunity I had, to be in high heels and strut my stuff, even if it was just to go to church or the mall,” said Van Der Westhuizen.
Despite her love of the spotlight, she said high school was not all sunshine and catwalks, as she struggled with being bullied, and had low self-esteem, and feelings of being lost and unsure of her path.
To deal with her emotions and the challenges she faced throughout high school, Van Der Westhuizen took a gap year after matriculating in 2023, and decided to join Ace Models to discover a new passion.
Finally, after modelling for only a few months, in October last year she took a brave step towards her dream by competing in the prestigious International Arts Talent Showcase (IATS) in Johannesburg.
Thankfully, Van Der Westhuizen’s captivating walk and stage presence left a lasting impression on the prestigious judging panel which secured her a coveted callback to compete at the International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) in New York City from July 6 to 14.
She said modelling at the IMTA will allow her to “strut her stuff” for over 100 international agents, all vying to help her reach for the stars.
“When I received the phone call confirming I would be going to New York, I realised that this was my moment and I had to pinch myself to make sure it was real. It was scary and so exciting at the same time. I could not help but cry because of the overwhelming amount of joy that I had,” said Van Der Westhuizen.
Since agencies from all over the world are going to attend IMTA, she said that this opportunity is truly life-changing.
Van Der Westhuizen further said that her biggest dream and goal are to get signed to an agency in Europe, so that she can work internationally and, with faith in God, she believes that this door of opportunity will be opened for her.
Through her experience she said she hopes to inspire young women everywhere to chase their dreams with courage and confidence.
To follow Van Der Westhuizen’s exciting journey, visit her various social media pages, Instagram – Nadia_vdw_1111, Facebook – Nadia Vdw and YouTube – LifeWithNadia1111.
