18-year-old Victoria Rodgers is the new modeling sensation, representing Australia at the Ford Models Supermodel of the World competition in New York next month.

The blond beauty jumped into the limelight when she walked in Finesse Model Agency three months ago and was discovered by Helena Vitolins, owner of Sydney’s Work Agency, who was visiting Finesse. The tyro’s first major modeling assignment, a catwalk show at Mercedes Australian Fashion Week in October, made her a real hit. In mid-December Rodgers appeared at the 2004 TAFE SA & The Laminex Group Fashion Parade. She also features in December issue of Girlfriend magazine and has been shot for a VO5 photo campaign. In Sydney she was chosen by Susan Quillin, director of scouting for Ford Models in New York, as the only Australian representative to take part in the contest.

“There is no one like her in the competition,” said a spokeswoman for Ford. “She is uniquely Australian.”