Raglan model scores 'phenomenal' gig in France for Yves Saint Laurent

Vinnie Woolston says he hasn't had a superstar welcome back home in Raglan.

Vinnie Woolston, a model from Raglan, is the new face of the Yves Saint Laurent men's scent La Nuit de l'Homme.

He is the third "face" of the fragrance, until now fronted by movie stars - first French actor Vincent Cassel in 2009 and then American star Garrett Hedlund.

"This is just massive for me, it's an honour to work for them and I feel very lucky," Woolston said yesterday.

The model, now in his late 20s, said he joined modelling agency 62 Models and Talent when he was 17.

He has modelled for local brands Zambesi, Workshop, Black Magazine and Hallensteins and overseas ones such as Camel, Jag and Cotton On.

"I was just a grom [young teenage surfer] working in a skate shop back then, I had no idea of how the industry worked, let alone have expectations of something like this."

His role as the new male face of YSL is to model in print media ads and television commercials and attend events promoting the fragrance.

He had just returned from Paris yesterday, where he had fronted press interviews, to the Waikato beachside town, where he lives with his partner and children.

There was no superstar welcome, nor any special treatment by family and mates, he said. "No different, still changing pooey nappies ... but everyone's very happy for me."

Woolston attributed much of his success to having a great agent, and family support. His agency boss, Andrea Plowright, would not say how much the YSL contract was worth, except that "it's a lot of money".

"Vinnie is in a position now where he can set himself up for life. For [him] to book this as a model living in a small rural New Zealand town, this is phenomenal."

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