A Northern Ireland teenager has taken to the catwalk at New York Fashion Week.
Laura McIlhagger from Co Down, who is a student at University of Ulster, headed to the US to model - which she says was a "dream come true".
The Dromore teen walked for designers Marc Defang and Alonso Maximo Design in a show held in the Edison Ballroom at the Times Square Hotel on Saturday, February 8.
Laura then enjoyed several photoshoots around the city with a number of New York photographers.
Speaking about her experience, she told Be: "I absolutely loved the experience of being at Fashion Week and it was such an honour to be photographed by one of the world’s top fashion photographers, Slaven Vlasic."
The university student also explained how the experience came about and said: "Back in September 2024, I messaged my favourite pageant dress designer, Marc Defang on Facebook and just asked him if I could walk in his upcoming show in New York Fashion Week Feb 2025.
"I sent him a video of me walking in a Pageant in Northern Ireland and in a charity fashion show for Melanie Bond Boutique in Dromore."
Laura added: "Walking in Fashion Week was a dream come true, I was originally only meant to walk for Marc Defang during two shows run on the 8th of February by the independent production company HiTechModa.
"I had the honour of walking in front of the Miss Universe organisers and during the show, there was a guest appearance from Miss Universe Vitoria Kjær Theilvig, it was like seeing real-life royalty.
"After the shows for Marc Defang were over, all the models began packing up and leaving when a designer’s assistant ran past me and another in a panic looking for models that would fit their dresses last minute.
"She told us to follow her to the haute couture dressing room and as soon as we stepped in, one person put a dress over my head while another was putting on my shoes.
"Luckily the dress fit perfectly and it was the most gorgeous dress I have ever worn. I was then hurried back stage and within minutes, was walking again for the incredible designer Alonso Maximo. It was a pinch me moment, I couldn’t believe it was really happening."
The 18-year-old, who has been modelling and competing in pageants for two years, recently won the title 'Pure International Teen Ireland' and will now be competing at the Internationals at Disney, Orlando in June for the 'Pure International Teen' title.
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English (United States) ·