IT would appear Tweed is a breeding ground for young models destined for greatness.

Our area has seen the likes of Samantha Harris rise to the top of the scene and walking runways in all the fashion capitals around the globe.

Murwillumbah stunner Oliva Thornton is right behind her on the global stage.

Now we've got another up-and-coming woman to add to the mix.

Her name is April Harvey.

Sound familiar? That's because she was on the latest season of Australia's Next Top Model showing on Fox 8.

The bubbly Tweed teen was born on the Tweed, and while she lived in other parts of northern NSW and the United Kingdom, she attended Banora Point High School.

She graduated in 2011 and was accepted into a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy but deferred to travel around Australia in an old banged-up ute and a tent.

"I was 17 at the time so I always knew I wanted a gap year and planned to travel for four months," she told APN.

"We lasted two-and-half months because of the ute. It broke down and cost a lot to fix but it was still amazing."

Harvey said highlights of the life-changing experience included the sites in Western Australia and the time they spent at the Great Barrier Reef.

"It made me grow up a lot ... being away from everyone," she said.

One of Harvey's biggest challenges was making sure they had enough water to reach the next destination in the outback.

"It gets really expensive really quick," she said.

After her travels she returned to the coast and began modelling after people told her she should give it ago.

"I was the fittest and most confident I'd been in my life and I had no commitments," she said.

"I started doing photo shoots but I kept missing the deadlines for auditions for everything ... I'd always hear about them after they were over."

Little did she know her biggest life-changing experience was just around the corner.

When she found out ANTM auditions were open she quickly filled out the "quite long and personal" application form.

The next step was "doing the walk" past famous Australian designer Alex Perry and two IMG scouts.

"You do the walk at the auditions and you get a yes or no," she said.

"Then I had to fill out another form and had to meet with the producers of the show."

From then on it was a whirlwind.

Harvey said she was required to film a casting video then and there, with the producers saying "they will give you a call".

"I didn't want to jinx it but I was really excited," she said.

I was a bit sad at the time and I came home and ate a lot of chocolate...to be honest it was so surreal. It was like a dream and I couldn't believe I made it on to the show.

Harvey got the nod and was told she was only allowed one phone call to tell her loved ones she could be gone for three days or three months.

"It all happened really fast," she said.

From then it was full speed ahead.

She found herself getting through episode one's boot camp with 14 other girls.

The Tweed teen had to pinch herself when she entered the mansion in Mossman, Sydney.

Before she knew it she was on a plane to Thailand, scavenging with a team for a stunning outfit in a Bangkok marketplace and learning about being beautiful from the inside out from a Buddhist monk.

Harvey made it through until episode five, where she left the competition in a shock double elimination.

She was told by judges her performance had declined since bootcamp.

Despite the criticism, she said it was one of the most amazing experiences of her life.

"I was a bit sad at the time and I came home and ate a lot of chocolate," she said.

"To be honest, it was so surreal. It was like a dream and I couldn't believe I made it onto the show. I kept questioning why I was there."

Harvey said she believed her constant internal questioning and her age led to her holding back on the show.

She said it was also difficult to have no contact with friends or family.

"My friends and family make me who I am, so that was very hard," she said.

"On the show I wasn't myself and wasn't able to be. I struggled a lot around the girls as well."

Harvey said the majority of her friends were males and the oestrogen in the room got to her a bit.

To get over her disappointment she took a trip.

"Then I went on a snow holiday at Mt Hotham," she said.

The beauty fell and snapped both wrists while on the holiday.

"I don't do things in halves," she said.

She hopes to continue her modelling career and to make occupational therapy a back-up if she needs it.

Fun Facts from this year's show

A one-year modelling contract will be awarded to the winner, along with a cover and e-spread in Harper's Bazaar Australia, $20,000 in cash, a Nissan 370z, and a trip to Paris.

Judges were Didier Cohen, Alex Perry, Charlotte Dawson and newbie host Jennifer Hawkins.

50 semi-finalists were selected to take part in this year's competition.

All contestants had to be aged 16 or over and at least 172cm tall in order to apply for the show.

Controversy hit the show when contestant Taylah Roberts, 17, 'strangled' another contestant, Ashley Pogmore. She was disqualified. It's not the first time the show has come under scrutiny for bullying incidents.