While most women at the supermarket are thinking of dinner and comparing prices, Donna Stobie has her mind on strutting the catwalk.
The Papamoa mother is swapping her studies for the glamour of New Zealand Fashion Week and will walk the runway for The Carpenters Daughter on Wednesday.
Weeks of rehearsals mean
she's always thinking about her walk - even doing the groceries.
"Sometimes if there's nobody in the aisle at the supermarket I find myself walking down like I'm on the catwalk and hope to God no one sees me and thinks 'what is she on?"' Mrs Stobie laughed.
The fashion design student had thought modelling was just for "size 10, six-foot tall, skinny little things" until earlier this year.
She was asked to model in a fundraising fashion show for Bettie Monroe and Augustine International, raising money for Mount Maunganui Surf Lifesaving Club.
Mrs Stobie enjoyed the experience so much, she decided to audition for the Fashion Week show for The Carpenters Daughter, which specialises in "plus-size clothing for curvy girls".
And the 39 year old was selected out of 70 women as one of 15 models for the show, which takes place on Thursday.
She's been travelling to Auckland each Sunday for rehearsals and said learning to strut the catwalk was just like New Zealand's Next Top Model.
"It's very very close to what's going on on the telly, it's quite funny.
"[They teach you] how to walk and not to swing your arms while you walk.
"Most important is to be very natural about it. You can get so worked up about not swinging your arms, you end up walking like a soldier."
As a budding designer, being involved in a fashion week show is a rare and valuable insight into the industry for Mrs Stobie.
"I thought getting behind the scenes would be such a great experience. It's a perfect opportunity for me. When I'm ordering my models around in the future, I will know exactly what they are going through, and can give them some of the tips I have been learning."
Mrs Stobie will model three outfits in the show and will get to keep the Minnie Cooper shoes and Bendon lingerie she will wear.
She's not nervous about her moment in the spotlight and is looking forward to rubbing shoulders with the gliteratti at the after-party.
"We are just really, really excited."
