Albuquerque, New Mexico – New Mexico teenagers’ dream of walking the catwalk at New York Fashion Week has become a reality. The 17-year-old had to do not one but two catwalks in New York.
Whether it’s on the New York City runway or her kitchen in Las Cruces, people can rely on Brooke Freilino to put on a show.
“The designer of this dress actually makes costumes for many Miss USA contestants,” says Freilino.
Only 17 years old and a senior in high school in New Mexico, he was recently given the opportunity to walk once in a lifetime at New York Fashion Week.
“How many people can say that? Have they ever walked fashion week?” said Brooke’s mother, Laurie Freirino.
This is a particularly impressive feat considering Brooke hasn’t been in the business for long.
“If so, it’s probably just about a year,” Brooke said.
On a whim, she decided to enter her first beauty pageant at age 16 and ended up finishing in the top five Miss New Mexico Teen USA, turning famous designers heads in the process.
Before she knew it, she was on a plane to New York with her parents.
“I’m really sitting here and she’s actually walking the runway? And the photographers are all over the place, incredible. It’s such an amazing feeling. I’m very proud,” Laurie said.
“I woke up one day and a designer texted me and she said, ‘Like you and other models, I was on the billboard in Times Square’ and I was like, ‘What? ’ I ran over to my parents and it was just like seeing me on a billboard, it was so crazy,” Brooke said.
Not only that, Brooke was again invited to Milan, London and New York Fashion Weeks in the fall.
Brooke is living one of her dreams but has her sights set on a career off the runway.
“After high school, I’m going to NMSU. My hope is to join the nursing program, and I also want to continue modeling,” Brooke said.
In the meantime, she has a message from one dreamer to another.
“You really have to go for it, no matter what people say.”