For New Zealand-born Sāmoan (with a dash of German, French, British, Irish, and Scandinavian) creative Isabella Moore, no two days are ever the same.

Currently working as an international Opera singer and model, Moore is constantly on the move.

This week, the talented singer-turned-runway model is returning to New Zealand Fashion Week: Kahuria, walking for a series of local and international designers, including Bantu, Jockey, Zambesi and more.

"This will be my third time walking for NZFW", Moore said.

Whilst the successful soprano has a series of wins to her name – including the Losefa Enari Memorial Award, Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards, Radio New Zealand listeners' choice award, IFAC Australian Singing Competition and the Marianne Mathy Scholarship – Moore clearly conveys that she values her career as a model, just as much as her time on the stage.

From being scouted at Aucklands St Lukes mall – by Unique Model Management – to now being represented by international modelling agency, IMG, it is obvious Moore's work as a model holds the same weight as her career as an established soprano.

"My modelling career began when I was scouted by Ursula from Unique Model Management in 2014," she said.

"It was a slow start, as I was fully focused on my music/opera studies overseas and didn't prioritise modelling.

"When I finished my studies in 2018 I returned to New Zealand and modelling kind of just took over. I signed to IMG Australia and from there, my profile started to grow and I found myself in London at the end of 2019 signed by multiple international agencies."

Whilst balancing the two careers can and continues to prove rather difficult for Moore, she is honest in sharing this, further revealing that she still – like most creatives in her field – finds it quite difficult to juggle her two passions.

"I've actually found it quite difficult! Furthering my operatic career requires a lot of effort at the stage that I'm at. It requires a lot of self-led work, admin, singing practice, auditioning, and networking," Moore told Style Up.

"Modelling requires a lot of travelling and jobs are often confirmed very last minute so I find it hard to plan and book in what I need to do for my singing."

Although her two career paths do have the tendency to overlap and be both physically and mentally demanding, Moore thoroughly loves what she does and confirms that at the end of the day, it's all about finding balance.

"I'm currently trying to find a better balance between the two as I love them both", she said.

Whether it's her work as a soprano or model, Moore is extremely passionate about advocating for greater representation, inclusivity and diversity surrounding Indigenous individuals and communities. Feeling most connected to her Sāmoan roots, Moore is extremely proud to have been provided with the opportunity to feature on this year's runway.

"I am a New Zealand-born Sāmoan with a dash of German, French, British, Irish, Scandinavian (and more… the list goes on!). I feel most connected to my Sāmoan roots and I'm very proud of them," she said.

"I have a taulima on my right wrist that has personally helped me feel more connected to my culture even when I'm living so far from home! It is a reminder that I have a village backing me and I hope I can make them proud through my successes but also just in the way I carry myself through life and my interactions with others.

"I'm so proud to be one of multiple Sāmoan models walking for this year's fashion week. I'm loving for the representation and am especially proud to be walking for the Pacific Fusion Fashion Show in which ALL the models are of Indigenous/Pasifika descent."

Speaking on the diversity on the physical runway, Moore remains very proud of how the industry is slowly yet surely progressing.

"It's amazing to see how much NZFW has embraced diversity and how inclusivity has increased since my first-time walking," she said.

The first time I walked, it was for one show and it was for a plus-size label. Now, I am walking in a variety of shows (not exclusively plus-size) including for designers who haven't always had this opportunity in the past.

Set to feature in the Slow & Conscious, Viva Next Gen, Bantu, Jockey, Zambesi, Pacific Fusion and Kate Sylvester runways, Moore definitely prioritises both rest and self-care, post-runway shows.

"I love me some amazing skincare and pampering," she said.

"After I've scraped off all the show makeup, I like to treat my skin and show it some love with a bunch of my favourite skincare products (Alumier, Medik8, The Ordinary, Skinsmiths and AOTEA to name a few!). A glass of pinot gris also goes down well after a show."

Whilst Moore has been shifting her time between modelling and opera singing, her career and reputation as a model has – and continues to – flourish. Aware of this, Moore is eager to explore more runway opportunities, both locally and overseas.

"I am based in London, so I'll be heading back those ways to continue with my modelling work. I have plans to go to New York in the near future to hopefully get on to the modelling scene there too" she said.

"It's been an amazing journey so far. I've kept my mind and heart open to opportunities that have come my way and that's what I hope to keep doing".

With an international presence, a growing portfolio of work and a respected name, Isabella Moore is proving that you can indeed have it all, no matter who you are, where you are from or what you look like.

"I believe indigenous women and men are so extremely gifted and they deserve everything this world has to offer. I would love to inspire them to take up the space they deserve," she said.

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