Tori Moniz was a tomboy growing up but these days she’s a budding model getting international attention for her looks.

The 25-year-old was recently featured in the pages of a Delta Sky Magazine, showing off creations from local jewellery designer Alexandra Mosher.

It wasn’t her first moment in the spotlight — last year she was chosen to be part of a commercial project for Apple’s corporate launch thanks to Into Bermuda.

“With that one [local filmmaker] Andrew Kirkpatrick messaged me and told me to go to Chewstick for these open call auditions,” Ms Moniz said.

“There was a woman there doing casting calls and she called me two days later and we did a shoot at Tucker’s Point.

“It was amazing. Like I said, I had never even thought about modelling before and since then the amount of people who have approached me has been amazing.”

The bartender at Bolero has received lots of support from co-workers, family and friends.

It’s given her the push she needed to break out of her comfort zone and try out for other gigs that come her way.

One of the biggest challenges has been getting used to having her hair primped and make-up done for photo shoots.

She’s also had to work on nailing her poses and looking as natural as possible in pictures.

“Modelling is a lot harder than I thought,” Ms Moniz said. “They are probing at you and putting make-up on your face and fake lashes on your eyes; so much is going on at once.

“I am also working full-time as well, so on my break I would run from Bolero to MAC Cosmetics to get my make-up done and then run to the beach for the shoot. The photographer tells you what to do and how to keep this or that pose.

“Then I would run back to work and deal with customers all day long. It was really tiring.”

But she said she felt really proud of herself when she saw the final outcome in last month’s Delta Sky Magazine.

“My dad [Samuel Moniz] is collecting copies of the magazine all the time and showing them to everyone,” she said. “My co-workers at Bolero love it and when they see me come in after a shoot all sweaty and in make-up they think it’s funny, but they are also so proud. They call me ‘Ms Delta’.

Ms Moniz started wearing make-up while working at a nightclub several years ago, but only because she thought it necessary for her job.

“It’s kind of standard in that business and I only wore it for work.

“Now I wear make-up maybe once a week if I’m going out with friends.

“Growing up I was more of the tomboy and took after my dad. I was always pretty active in sports and used to do gymnastics, rock climbing and sailing.

“I also helped out with lots of things around the house like electrics and plumbing and learnt to do my own tiling. My dad always wanted a son, so I guess I filled that void for him. He taught me the typical hands-on things when I was coming up.”

She has three other sisters who are more girlie; she used to get them to shop for her when necessary.

“I would show up to the store with money and tell my sisters: ‘Go find me something’. These days I’ve definitely come into my own a bit and can apply my own make-up and shop on my own. But sometimes it’s still easier to get them to do it,” she said, with a laugh.

At this point she’s not sure how far she can go in the modelling industry, but her dream would be to one day journey to New York or Los Angeles.

“I am absolutely open for anything. The next step will be to get a portfolio together and look at my options from that point.

“Right now it’s a great hobby and anything extra is just a bonus.”

Modelling has changed how she sees herself and taught her to believe more in her own talents and abilities. She hopes other women will be inspired by her journey as well.

“I have always been a very tiny person. My nicknames in school were ‘Twig’ and ‘Stick’ so to be able to come out of my shell and feel comfortable in myself is an amazing feeling,” she said. “I’m hoping I can inspire other young women, especially my younger sister. Like a lot of young girls she doesn’t always have the most positive image of herself.

“I hope she sees me, how far I’ve come, and realises how important it is just to be comfortable in your own skin.”