Dreams have become reality for up-and-coming catwalk queen Rebecca Hardy, who won Canada's Next Top Model on Wednesday night. "I'm super thrilled," says the 22-year-old from Manheim, Ontario, who burst into tears when she was announced the winner. "I'm not one to really cry that much… but when you're standing there, you're holding your breath and when they told me that I'd won I was just in shock."
The small town girl went from working in a meat-packing plant to being crowned the country's newest modelling sensation almost overnight. The 5ft 11in tomboy's transformation into a high fashion star meant she walked away with a $100,000 deal with a cosmetic company, a contract with a top Canadian agency and an editorial spread in a glossy fashion magazine.
Rebecca was singled out from nine other gorgeous contenders in the second season of the reality series spin-off of America's Next Top Model. Along with host Jay Manuel - who also judges the US equivalent - fashion industry experts, including celebrity photographer Paul Alexander, journalist Jeanne Beker and supermodel Yasmin Warsame had the difficult task of narrowing down the photogenic beauties.
After admitting that this was one of the closest races in Top Model history, Jay says he expects to see the winner on the international modelling scene very soon. "Rebecca is the total package!" he says. "She's got the looks, the smarts and the passion to be a bonafide success in this business."
Photo: Nigel Barker
Photo: John Van Der Schilden
