Imagine being 18-years-old and making $9,000 in three hours -- legitimately.  Austria Alcantara left her small town of San Juan de la Maguana in the Dominican Republic with big dreams of modeling in New York City and made it in real life. 

After coming in second place at the Ford Supermodel of the World event in January 2008, Austria was scouted and signed to IMG Models, making her debut as an exclusive for the Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti show later that spring.

Since then, the five-foot-ten-inch model has walked for numerous shows at fashion week in New York, including Brian Reyes, DKNY, Cynthia Rowley, and Ports 1961. 

She has also been featured in editorials for Teen Vogue in December 2008/January 2009, ELLE in May 2009, and more recently, an editorial campaign for 10 Magazine.

Socrates McKinney, Austria’s agent in the Dominican Republic thought that at first Austria was strange looking, but had the height to be a model.  “Austria is a girl that you think that she’s Indian.  But she is also Black.  But she is also white,” says McKinney.

Austria will be walking for fashion weeks in Milan, London, Paris this year, and according to her agent at IMG, Phil McGowan, “she is in high demand.”

courtesy of IMG Models