Amid the hairspray, false eyelashes, hair rollers and general chaos of backstage Fashfest, model Siani Iglewski sits calmly.
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Despite being a first-time model at 34, Siani is surprisingly confident.
"I'm waiting for the nerves to kick in and it's just not happening," she says.
"I'm just excited and the general buzz is amazing. This is exactly why I wanted to be a part of Fashfest - the creativity and the general vibe."
Siani, a policy researcher for the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association, is aptly walking for Indigenous brands Magpie Goose and Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation during Fashfest 2017.
"Walking the catwalk is the most amazing confidence boost," she said.
"My dad joined Toastmasters in the 1980s and modelling feels like the modern version of that - about boosting your confidence and meeting new people.
"Maybe it comes with being an older model - well not a teenage model anyway - but I'm just feeling great."
Siani said she decided to audition for Fashfest after being an audience member a couple of years ago. She said she was delighted to be chosen and now had other friends her age interested in modelling in future shows.
"It's a fantastic event for Canberra," she said.
It's the fifth year for the fashion event, which is on for three nights from September 28 with three shows each night at the Canberra Convention Centre.
This year has the creations of more than 30 designers heading down the runway, with a mix of local, national and New Zealand.
Tickets are available at fashfest.com.au.