Kiara-Tayne’s talents impress internationally

The blue-eyed Norton’s Home Estate resident and Kathstan College pupil represented South Africa among more than 600 competitors in her age group, from 17 countries.

She won a gold medal for overall Model of the Year (print and runway together) and a silver medal for her commercial acting, which entailed doing a 30-second commercial in front of a camera.

She also obtained a bronze medal for her individual commercial print, which is where contestants had to submit a print to advertise a product, and another bronze for her fashion print (fashion catalogue style).

She achieved five fourth places in the categories group performance, monologue, best smile, scene acting and swimsuit print.

She currently studies acting with Oliver Muller, from Talent Coach, in Pretoria, with whom she did a showcase at the Rendezvous Theatre (State Theatre), in December.

She had, however, done no modelling before her appearance at iPOP.

“We went to Los Angeles just for acting, but when we got there the iPOP directors pushed her into the modelling category as well,” said her mother, Iana Fourie.

“The judges loved her.”

Kiara-Tayne said she is a born actress.

“My cousin, Delwin van Jaarsveld, is an actor and I have always wanted to be like him,” she said.

She will be home-schooled from March, to adapt to the time constraints that come with her career.

She has been offered three contracts with acting and modelling agencies in Los Angeles and London, to consider.

Kiara-Tayne owes her success to her strong will for winning and being the best that she can be.

Iana said her daughter has always been very competitive, learns from her mistakes and just works harder.

She has a great support structure, consisting of her mom and dad and “Oupa” and ”Ouma”, who do the transporting to and from activities.

Her six-year-old brother, Oak, and aunts also support her all the way.

She advised other girls, involved with similar activities, to be themselves, enjoy it “and have fun!”

“It has been a terrific and unforgettable experience and I recommend it to anybody who gets this type of opportunity — just go for it,” said Kiara-Tayne.

She also received her Gauteng colours for show jumping and equitation and represented Gauteng at the South African National Equestrian Schools Association (Sanesa) in horse riding, recently.

Some of her other sporting activities are golf and athletics.

In 2013 she was ranked third in the country for girls her age for South African Kids Golf with two tournaments to go, but she broke her collar bone, which took three months to heal.

She started playing golf again, recently.

With her starting home schooling she will have more time to focus on this as well.

Kiara-Tayne loves cross-country and won the Cross-country Athlete of the Year award, last year, at Kathstan College.

She recently won the 800 metres at the inter schools meeting by 200 metres.

She is in the process of obtaining her international work visa and work permit, so that she can commence her career in the modelling and acting industries.