South Surrey teen model Annika Van Vliet is no stranger to the spotlight, and it害羞草研究所檚 about to get a whole lot brighter.

At 15, Annika has posed for numerous photo shoots, given television interviews and walked fashion-week runways in both Vancouver and Toronto 害羞草研究所� activities she only began dipping her toe into about a year ago.

On Saturday (Sept. 9), she害羞草研究所檒l shine in the Big Apple, with her photo among 500 to be featured in a jumbotron video presentation in New York害羞草研究所檚 Times Square launching the 2023 Buddy Walk, an annual event to raise awareness for Down syndrome in the U.S.

But Annika害羞草研究所檚 brightest moment so far is yet to come, and one many aspiring models can only dream of: walking the runway for Paris Fashion Week.

The prestigious affair害羞草研究所檚 autumn/winter edition is set for Sept. 25 to Oct. 2, with Annika害羞草研究所檚 moment on the runway at Le Bristol Paris hotel to come on Oct. 1.

Walking with La Belle magazine 害羞草研究所� a publication, according to labellkidz.com, 害羞草研究所渇or the trendsetting and style-savvy child害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� she害羞草研究所檚 been training for the experience since first learning she害羞草研究所檇 been chosen for it a couple of months ago.

She doesn害羞草研究所檛 yet know what she害羞草研究所檒l be wearing, but when it comes to what害羞草研究所檚 expected of her, she knows to look straight ahead, do 害羞草研究所渢he walk害羞草研究所� and pause for a three-second pose in either direction when she reaches the runway害羞草研究所檚 end before walking back.

While full of shy giggles and blushing during a FaceTime chat with Peace Arch News Thursday (Sept. 7), Annika comes into her own in front of a camera, her mom said. Her Instagram page (@annika.jillian) is bursting with examples.

害羞草研究所淧eople her whole life have told me, 害羞草研究所榶ou gotta get her into modelling,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 said Lisa, in explaining her daughter害羞草研究所檚 path to the jumbotron and Paris. 害羞草研究所淪he was always a poser害羞草研究所� always been very photogenic and very, like, a ham, so I just threw her in the (modelling) shows.害羞草研究所�

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Annika, who started Grade 10 at St. John Paul II Academy this week, broke into modelling after being discovered during a June 2022 Glam-Z gala. Approached by three agencies, she ultimately signed on with , an Edmonton-based 害羞草研究所渄isability-focused talent and media company,害羞草研究所� and her interest hasn害羞草研究所檛 wavered, her mom said.

害羞草研究所淭his kid has been working non-stop ever since,害羞草研究所� said Lisa.

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 15 and she害羞草研究所檚 just killin害羞草研究所� it.害羞草研究所�

Lisa said she and her husband Troy had plenty of time to prepare for the joys and challenges that come with raising a child born with Down syndrome 害羞草研究所� Annika was diagnosed in-utero, at just 15 weeks into Lisa害羞草研究所檚 pregnancy.

They did 害羞草研究所渢ons害羞草研究所� of therapy with her from the moment she was born and 害羞草研究所渁lways push her to be her best.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e never subscribed to the 害羞草研究所榗an害羞草研究所檛,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 said Lisa.

Annika, she noted, knows she has Down syndrome, but doesn害羞草研究所檛 let it hold her back. In addition to her modelling, she is currently ambassador for both Canadian Down Syndrome Society and the .

Saturday害羞草研究所檚 Buddy Walk presentation is to air live from 9:30-10:30 a.m. EST on the . Annika害羞草研究所檚 photo is scheduled to appear between 10:20-10:30 a.m. EST (7:20-7:30 a.m. local time).