But Newcastle-born fashion model and former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins also provided some unintended inspiration for the dozens of young girls who took the stage at the first stop on Australia’s Next Top Model national tour on Thursday.

If Hawkins could forge out such a career in the industry, plucked from relative obscurity, then why not them?

‘‘Jen wasn’t a big name when she started, she grew up in Newcastle and she made it,’’ Haley Bancroft, 18, of Coal Point, said as she waited in the line to register. 

Hawkins, 30, the star attraction received a huge ovation from the crowd at Charlestown Square when she stepped onto the stage alongside judges Alex Perry and Didier Cohen. 

‘‘I’m really excited that Top Model have started with Newcastle, being my home town and all,’’ Hawkins had told the Newcastle Herald moments earlier. 

‘‘I was excited to come back and to come to Charlestown Square, it brings back some memories.

‘‘There will definitely be some great talent here, I can’t wait to get out there.’’

Hawkins advice for aspiring models and Next Top Model hopefuls was simple.

‘‘I would say for them to be themselves, be confident, just really own it out on stage then usually when you see someone who is true to themselves then you go: ‘‘Oh she’s ready to be out there in the real world and to be in the modelling industry’’,’’ Hawkins said. 

A huge crowd gathered inside Charlestown Square as a long line of nervous-looking girls snaked its way from the registration desk through the shopping centre. The first hurdle to overcome was the height restriction. You had to be 172 centimetres or taller to be allowed to apply.

Waratah’s Ruby Compton, 16, measured 171.5cm and was initially told she was ineligible. ‘‘I told my mum: ‘‘I’m not going to take that, I want to go back and try again’’ and I saw [model and judge] Didier [Cohen] and said: ‘‘Look I really want to audition, I’m half a centimetre too short and I think I can make up for that.’’

She was allowed to register, took a stroll on the catwalk in front of the judges and was told she had narrowly missed out and was definitely a contender for next year. But there were at least 20 girls who didn’t go home disappointed, including Ms Bancroft and Whitebridge’s Camille L’Enfle. 

Miss L’Enfle, from Mauritius, said her aunty had registered her for the audition and she didn’t know about it until Thursday morning. 

‘‘I didn’t think I was going to make it through, no way,’’ she said. ‘‘I’m still shaking.’’