David Jones embracing the Big D
In years gone by you would be forgiven for mistaking the biannual David Jones model casting for a break on the set of Home And Away, but these days the oldest department store in the country is embracing the Big D with gusto.
Diversity – the buzzword of the decade – was at the top of the brief for Spring Summer 2018 show auditions at the scenic Andrew Boy Charlton Pool on Wednesday for judges Jessica Gomes and Johnny Schembri.
"We really want fashion to be for everybody," Gomes, David Jones ambassador for the past six years, told Fairfax Media.
"We are looking for new, fresh faces. Someone with personality and a great walk. Diverse models, who look healthy and have some pizzazz."
The By Johnny designer, who was poached from Myer by DJs last year, said he was "very impressed" with the turnout and would be whittling down the 150 hopefuls to who he thinks can "bring the clothes to life".
One of those who would fit the bill was Weah Bangura, 21, a model with albinism, originally from Sierra Leone who came to Australia as a refugee 14 years ago.
You can't look sideways over the past two years without seeing Bangura on the Australian modelling circuit, but this would be his first ever DJs show and he hopes his striking features will help him land the job.
"My looks work both ways for me," he said. "Sometimes I stand out and sometimes I stand out too much that people don't know what to do with me, so it's like a win and lose situation. But I am glad to be unique. To me it is a win."
Also at the auditions was Simone Cox, 55, mother-of-three and Miss Universe Australia 1983, who is no stranger to walking for DJs, but she laughed: "It's been a while."
"I used to walk for DJs in the '80s when we used to do store parades," she said.
"I initially thought I might be too old nowadays but we have an aging population so there is a lot of work for mature women and David Jones are embracing that ... It would be nice to be back again."
The SS18 show, which will take place on August 8 at Fox Studios, is one of the most highly anticipated events on the social calender.