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Though her modeling career hasn’t yet taken this unique young woman to her greatest distances, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and 22-year-old Rachael Christine took her first step just over a year ago when she made the move to Vancouver in pursuit of a career in the fashion industry.

A prima ballerina in her early years, unlike many young girls in the industry she launched into her modeling career at a later age of 21.

Growing up in Edmonton, Alberta, she spent her time from the age of twelve onward dancing.

“Dancing was my priority, school came second,” she explains. “I did school through correspondence, so dancing could come first.”

She filled her hardworking days with nine hours in the studio.

Dedicated and strong-minded, by the age of 14 she was professionally dancing for the Alberta School of Ballet.

Dancing led Rachael Christine across the Pacific to Brisbane, Australia where she spent two years furthering her career as a ballerina.

After spending two years in Brisbane, she realized it was a time for change and decided to put dance behind her for the time being. She explained how being a professional at such a young age had effected her life, “It was very emotionally and physically draining, so much so that I took a look at my life, evaluated it and asked myself if this was really what I wanted to do and if it would really make me happy.”

She decided to return to Alberta, where she took a break from dancing. She later made an attempt to get back into ballet, only causing her to realize that it wasn’t worth the turmoil it brought into her life.

Her favourite part of dance was being able to dress up and pretend she was someone else, all the while knowing exactly who she was. This was also something that she could do as a model.

“ I love being able to dress up and put myself into the character’s that are asked of me by the different photographers , and I love the artistic aspect of fashion,” she added.
That’s when she realized modeling was her true calling.

Still carrying herself with the grace of a ballerina in her navy French Connection coat, her bluntly cut bangs and dark straight hair frame her naturally flawless face as we sit in Downtown’s Café Artigiano and talk about her personal style and what she’d like to accomplish as a model.

At the moment she’ll take any opportunity that comes her way, but she hopes to see herself doing advertisements and magazine editorial spreads.

The highlight of her career so far has been working with fashion photographer Renat Touichev with recent photo shoot in North Vancouver, as well as appearing in the Georgia Straight’s recent Valentines week issue.

Her edgy and unique style is inspired by the likes of Alexander McQueen and Parisian designer Lanvin.

Not only do her favourite designers call the city of romance home, but everything from Parisian cabarets and boudoirs to the mouth-watering marvels of French wine and cuisine encapsulate the elegance and confidence held by Rachael Christine, something rarely found elsewhere than Paris’s own Champs-Élysées.

Paris is the place she would love to call home at some point in her life, and she’s undeniably headed in the right direction.

Her secret indulgence is baking, “If I weren’t modeling I’d be a pastry chef,” she admits, as she looks down at the heart shape the espresso shots formed in her skinny latté.

She loves to relax when she has a spare moment in between building her portfolio and her nine to five office job. She enjoys good food and drinks rather than going out to party. One of her favourite spots to unwind is Vancouver’s Chambar.

Determined to make her dreams reality, she has taken her age and flavourful life experiences to her advantage and with an air of confidence about her, you can see in her determined eyes that this unique young lady is ready to take on whatever comes her way, passionately.

For Rachael Christine it’s about, “The whole aspect of the journey, the different outfits, the shoes, the people and the opportunity to reinvent yourself each time you do something new.”