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Frederique van der Wal

By SARA TEMPLETON

It's no wonder Frederique Van Der Wal prefers to be called 'Frederique'. With a surname like that it's not hard to screw it up. I can see it now: "Hello. I'm Sara and I'm with Web Wombat - you must be Fred the Vandal, right?"

Anyway, Frederique is one of those rare catwalkers to whom other supermodels look up to. In the sometimes catty world of fashion, this is an accolade worthy of only the most sincere. And that's Frederique to a tee.

Born in Holland in the year of 1967, Frederique didn't grow up with ambitions of being a globe-trotting supermodel. She worked in kitchens as a dish-pig (as did I) and delivered newspapers for extra monies. Before the world of modelling unraveled before her, she was an extremely hard-worker and had a good business sense, even when in her early teens.

She wasn't one of those models who was spotted in a shopping mall or at a petrol bowser. She was advised by an Amsterdam-based modeling agency to enter a competition - the Elite sponsored "Look of the Year" contest. She entered the competition and fought long and hard to eventually claim the crown. Not long after her homeland triumph, she was flown out to Mauritius to take part in the international aspect of the competition.

She won there, too. This essentially opened the gates for her as it helped ink a modelling contract with Elite Model Management. However strong the urge was to become a highly-paid, jet-setting model, Frederique decided that she would finish her studies first. An impressive show of how determined, yet focused, she really is.

After finishing her studies, at the age of 18, the Euro-babe took off for New York to take up where she left off after winning the "Look of the Year" contest. The rest, as they say, is history.

Frederique has achieved almost all the milestones that any professional model could want: nine Cosmopolitan covers, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, Madamoiselle and the much vaunted Victoria's Secret catalogue. Initially, she featured in campaigns such as Revlon's Most Unforgettable Women in the World and soon after this she appeared in a Guess? campaign.

Well and truly Ensconced within the world of fashion, her desire to be successful still wasn't complete. She's starred in movies such as Wild, Wild, West, plus she's appeared in numerous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues - a true sign of a multi-faceted femme. But on top of all this, she has many other goals.

Putting her business savvy mind to good use, the supermodel earns substantially more than even the Naomis and the Claudias of the fashion world - the juggernauts, if you will. She ventured into a number of new areas as her entrepreneurial attitude kicked in after accomplishing all her modelling goals. For instance, she has launched her own line of lingerie, a collection of bath products, calendars, her own website, the Frederique fragrance and the crowning glory - she has her own fitness video.

Is there anything this lass can't do?

Many will agree that Frederique's best asset are her pouty lips, but taken as a whole she is quite the looker. With her voluptuous figure, shapely hips and amazing smile, you can't deny she's a sassy lass. Adding to her good looks is her keen attitude. She may be a business woman but that doesn't mean she's evil.

In her spare time, Frederique likes sail on the open seas, visit art galleries and other exclusive activities us mere mortals can only dream of. She also likes to read books, she enjoys getting to the snow for skiing and mountain climbing, plus she windsurfs and enjoys a night at the movies, too.

Is she the perfect role model?