Two Vancouver-area women are among the 11 finalists for the upcoming season of Canada’s Next Top Model, CTV announced on Monday.
Jill, 19, from Vancouver is enrolled in women’s studies at Langara College. Maryam, 18, from North Van, is pursuing a bachelor of science at Simon Fraser University. CTV is not releasing their last names.
A third woman from B.C. also made it, 22-year-old Penticton-resident Alexandra.
Jill said that she has dreamed of living the glamorous life of a model from an early age. In her biography, she mentions standing in front of the Barbie section at Toys ‘R Us where she worked during high school, looking at their outfits and taking notes.
Being selected for Canada’s Next Top Model was a surprise.
“It was a shock. I screamed for about five minutes,” she said.
Maryam, 18, immigrated to Canada from Iran two years ago.
She said she’s grateful to finally have an opportunity to pursue modelling.
“I’ve been in a country where I didn’t have the freedom to think about it … there are models but they wear scarves,” she said. “I want to represent all the exotic beauty of women that (are) in the Middle Eastern countries that nobody sees.”
Canada’s Next Top Model “Strikes a Pose” premieres May 26.
