Top Australian designers have been clamouring for Emily, 16, with some offering to pay two to three times her standard rate to secure her for their shows.

"Emily's known as a show girl,'' Chadwick Models manager Tanya Muia said.

"She always does the big department store shows. She did Berlin Fashion Week this year, which was exciting. And she has Paris and Milan this year, too.

"She's very strong, both editorially and on the catwalk.

"Unfortunately we've had to turn some clients away.

"But there are only so many shows she can physically do in a day. There have been some very disappointed designers.''

Rosemount Australian Fashion Week is a five-day-event, but for the hundreds of registered models, the work can last up to a month.

Most have been in the fashion capital for two weeks for castings and fittings before the big week _ after that it's about survival.

"I certainly won't be doing any of the after-parties,'' Emily said.

"I've always been too young for them, anyway. I think the best way to get through is to get as much sleep as possible and to eat really well.

"If I do that I should be fine - except for the feet. My feet always seem about 12 sizes bigger at the end of the week because they are so swollen.''

Emily will showcase the summer collections of Alex Perry, Lisa Ho, Sass & Bide, Tina Kalivas, Antipodium and Ruth Tarvydas, among others.