From growing up in a small beachside town to shooting on the shores of Byron Bay, Luca Saunders is one of the many emerging First Nations models building their career from the ground up.

Style Up spoke with the rising star to learn more about how her career and presence in the fashion and creative industry has grown.

"I'm a proud Biripi woman who grew up on Biripi country in a very small beach town outside of Taree NSW," she said.

"I'm a Saunders so I'm from a huge family and community.

"I never would have thought I'd be modelling until I was scouted from a quick photo snapped of me at Saltwater Freshwater festival and shared on social media. That happened when I was 16. I was signed immediately."

Saunders' love for fashion arose from her passion for self-expression.

"I love being able to express myself through fashion and I love dressing up, it's amazing having my makeup and hair done and I love everything to do with the creative process of a shoot," she said.

Saunders reflected back on some of her career highlights, sharing that there has been many 'pinch me' moments.

"One of my modelling highlights would be shooting Miimi and Jiinda's first fashion campaign in Byron Bay," she told Style Up.

"Another highlight happened in my first year of modelling when I walked the Indigenous Fashion Projects runway at Australian Fashion Week wearing Ihraa swim.

"There is a very magical energy working with mob, from the models to the stylist and photographers, everyone has a strong unspoken connection. There's a lot of laughter, support, acceptance and understanding for one another. Backstage is pure energy with laughter, stories, and that magic moment where everyone realises how they're connected/related or have crossed paths before."

Saunders said she would love to see greater representation of Indigenous people across all creative industries - not only fashion.

"We definitely need greater representation of Indigenous people in every space, especially in mainstream media," she said.

"In Australia there is so much room for more representation.

"Recently seeing Tatyana Perry, Em Stenberg and Latahlia Hickling on the cover of Vogue and getting the recognition they deserve was a huge highlight for me."

Saunders expanded on the challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives.

"It's hard to make space when the media is constructed for, and by, non-Indigenous people," she said.

"I hope that soon all First Nations people in every corner are recognised and valued equally, without the added burden of having to work harder for the same opportunities."

The talented model has also gained attention off the runway thanks to her impressive voice.

"I recently performed at Yabun on the acoustic stage which was extremely special," she said.

"I grew up around music and dancing and have always loved performing.

"My goal is to move back to Sydney eventually, but for now my music and my band Luella Deville are playing gigs between Sydney and the Gold Coast often, just to throw another geographical challenge in there, and I'm so happy to be spending time with very creative and extremely talented musicians and to be able to say they're my band.

"Having my band is extending my creative range and I'm learning so much, even drums.

"I just want to work as much as possible and make music that I'm proud of. I'll definitely be releasing music under my name and under "Luella Deville" this year."

Saunders said she was grateful to have the support of a loving - and creative - family

"I've been extremely lucky to have incredible support from my family. They have supported me through absolutely everything unconditionally," she said.

"My dad was in an amazing grunge band called Circle of Fate in the '90s with some of his cousins and friends. He is a professional stand-up comedian, so I grew up surrounded by creativity, performance and art.

"Dad did it for a living, so we had boxes of wigs, costumes, and hats at home. One day we'd be heading off with a camera crew while he was dressed as a shark, and the next week would be in Melbourne mentoring up-and-coming Indigenous comedians.

"My mum is also incredibly creative, with a strong sense of direction and vision in everything she does. She has a way of grounding all our amazing big ideas and shaping them into something real."

Saunders continues to work all over Australia, regularly travelling back and forth from Taree.

"I have recently moved back home to beautiful Biripi country, I love it here and the older I get I understand why my Dad is so connected to Country and never wants to leave. It's a spiritual connection," she said.

"Home is a seven-hour round trip to Sydney. I'm very happy to be home but it can be challenging travelling so often for my work opportunities. I'm very grateful for my friends and sister who let me couch surf when I'm in Sydney.

"Now that I'm home I really want to join our cultural dance group again. I danced all through school up until I moved to Sydney."

Looking ahead, Saunders is eager to grow her presence in the industry, further pursue her music career and ultimately showing emerging First Nations creatives that remaining true to yourself and embracing your authenticity will always make you stand out.

"I'm so grateful for every modelling opportunity, and for the amazing people who help create each job from the ground up," she said.

"There's a huge amount of work and talent behind the scenes that often goes unnoticed, it really does take a great team.

"The best advice I ever received is to have tunnel vision... Do not compare yourself to anyone and life isn't practice, it's performance. So go all in on it."