Stella follows model pal Thalia to Australia

The lure of the country is proving too much to resist for many in Ireland so it was only a matter of time before some of our fashionable beauties began joining the ranks abroad.

Dubliner Thalia, who turned 20 in February, recently decided to try her luck in Sydney for the summer months after she was contacted by a model agent there - and Wicklow blonde Stella will be hot on her heels.

ABROAD

The 21-year-old from Enniskerry is set to fly over to Australia in August after lining up representation.

No doubt the adventure will be easier for the two girls knowing that they are together abroad.

Stella, who is on the books of Morgan The Agency in Dublin, is currently in Canada following a busy few months with college studies and exams. She has been posing for the cameras for three years and so far has worked with brands including Forever 21, Brown Thomas, Emma Manely, Asos and Wella.

Leading father and daughter designers John and Simone Rocha have also taken a shine to the slim beauty since she has emerged on the fashion scene. John was such a fan of her look that he used her image on his 2012 London Fashion Week invites, which were sent out to dozens of A-list celebrities.

Like her pal Thalia, Stella is also signed to top UK agency London Model Management.

Thalia, who is the cousin of Love/Hate actor Aaron Heffernan, established herself with successful stints modelling at home, in London and New York before making the decision to pack her bags.

Thalia has been in the headlines lately after it was rumoured that One Direction singer Niall Horan took a shine to her after the pair met at the band's Croke Park gig in May.

The duo are said to have met at an after-show party, during which they were giggling and flirting and rumoured to have enjoyed a smooch.

Niall harbours a flame for models and has been connected to Victoria's Secret star Barbara Palvin.

lbutler@herald.ie