Dunedin mother-of-three Mel McNally won an exclusive VIP experience at Dunedin’s iD Fashion Week last week, but that wasn’t the only prize she walked away with!
Lucky Mel also bagged herself a date with New Zealand’s first-ever Bachelor Art Green and his girlfriend Matilda Rice, thanks to a competition run by Dunedin’s Golden Centre Mall.
The mother-of-three says she was absolutely thrilled when she heard she had won.
“I really wanted to go to the show and I saw that the Golden Centre was having a competition. To be honest, I didn’t really notice the part about Art and Matilda but when I won, it was so exciting – and the date just topped it all off.”
In the Carlton restaurant at Dunedin’s Scenic Hotel Southern Cross, Art, Matilda and Mel looked like old friends as they talked about family, interests and skin regimes while eating a three-course paleo meal, especially prepared by the chef at the Carlton.
“It was amazing. They’re such beautiful people,” says Mel.
“She is absolutely stunning in real life and just awesome. She was always my favourite on the show because she’s so funny and down to earth. I think we share a similar sense of humour. They complement each other really well.”
Matilda, Art and Mel enjoyed a three-course paleo lunch at the Carlton restaurant. Photo: Chris Sullivan
Art and Matilda were brought to Dunedin by the Golden Centre Mall (a long-term major sponsor of the iD Dunedin Fashion Week) to strut their stuff along the 120m catwalk as t-shirt models in the mall’s capsule collection.
“We’re just so excited about seeing and being in the show,” says Matilda.
“I’m nervous too about walking. It’s the first time I’ve ever walked on the catwalk and it’s very long. But I’ll be wearing Vans rather than heels so that will be OK I’m sure.”
Art, who went to Saturday’s iD Fashion Show as a guest of the mall, says he loved the work of iD International Emerging Designer Awards winner Jordan Anderson, whose collection ‘Global Citizen’ took out first prize the night before, alongside the Zambesi collection.
Art and Matilda, who have been together now for 13 months, were spending the afternoon visiting some of Art’s “old haunts” as a student before attending an iD pre-show party, the show and exclusive after-party event.
