South Surrey teen model Annika Van Vliet is no stranger to the spotlight, and itB次元官网网址檚 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 B次元官网网址� activities she only began dipping her toe into about a year ago.

On Saturday (Sept. 9), sheB次元官网网址檒l shine in the Big Apple, with her photo among 500 to be featured in a jumbotron video presentation in New YorkB次元官网网址檚 Times Square launching the 2023 Buddy Walk, an annual event to raise awareness for Down syndrome in the U.S.

But AnnikaB次元官网网址檚 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 affairB次元官网网址檚 autumn/winter edition is set for Sept. 25 to Oct. 2, with AnnikaB次元官网网址檚 moment on the runway at Le Bristol Paris hotel to come on Oct. 1.

Walking with La Belle magazine B次元官网网址� a publication, according to labellkidz.com, B次元官网网址渇or the trendsetting and style-savvy childB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� sheB次元官网网址檚 been training for the experience since first learning sheB次元官网网址檇 been chosen for it a couple of months ago.

She doesnB次元官网网址檛 yet know what sheB次元官网网址檒l be wearing, but when it comes to whatB次元官网网址檚 expected of her, she knows to look straight ahead, do B次元官网网址渢he walkB次元官网网址� and pause for a three-second pose in either direction when she reaches the runwayB次元官网网址檚 end before walking back.

While full of shy giggles and blushing during a FaceTime chat with Peace Arch B次元官网网址 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.

B次元官网网址淧eople her whole life have told me, B次元官网网址榶ou gotta get her into modelling,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Lisa, in explaining her daughterB次元官网网址檚 path to the jumbotron and Paris. B次元官网网址淪he was always a poserB次元官网网址� always been very photogenic and very, like, a ham, so I just threw her in the (modelling) shows.B次元官网网址�

READ ALSO:

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 B次元官网网址渄isability-focused talent and media company,B次元官网网址� and her interest hasnB次元官网网址檛 wavered, her mom said.

B次元官网网址淭his kid has been working non-stop ever since,B次元官网网址� said Lisa.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 15 and sheB次元官网网址檚 just killinB次元官网网址� it.B次元官网网址�

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 B次元官网网址� Annika was diagnosed in-utero, at just 15 weeks into LisaB次元官网网址檚 pregnancy.

They did B次元官网网址渢onsB次元官网网址� of therapy with her from the moment she was born and B次元官网网址渁lways push her to be her best.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e never subscribed to the B次元官网网址榗anB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Lisa.

Annika, she noted, knows she has Down syndrome, but doesnB次元官网网址檛 let it hold her back. In addition to her modelling, she is currently ambassador for both Canadian Down Syndrome Society and the .

SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 Buddy Walk presentation is to air live from 9:30-10:30 a.m. EST on the . AnnikaB次元官网网址檚 photo is scheduled to appear between 10:20-10:30 a.m. EST (7:20-7:30 a.m. local time).