A South Surrey teen who walked the runway during Paris Fashion Week had all the right moves during her brief few seconds of fame, giving the red JJChlo茅_official gown and feathered @chrisanthicouture_ headpiece she was decked out in some well-deserved flair on the international stage.

But ask the 15-year-old today 鈥� just weeks after her return 鈥� if she鈥檚 still riding high from the experience, and her response may come as a surprise.

鈥淧eople ask her about it, she covers her face鈥� 鈥�(says) 鈥榠t鈥檚 kind of embarrassing,鈥欌�� Annika Van Vliet鈥檚 mom, Lisa, chuckled Thursday (Oct. 26).

For Lisa, the reaction is nothing new. It鈥檚 how her daughter has always rolled when it comes to the modelling career the teen stepped into about a year ago.

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Represented by 鈥� an Edmonton-based 鈥渄isability-focused talent and media company鈥� 鈥� Annika has given television interviews, posed for numerous photo shoots and walked fashion-week runways in both Vancouver and Toronto since being discovered during a Glam-Z gala in June 2022.

In September, she was larger than life in the Big Apple, when an image of her was part of a jumbotron video presentation in New York鈥檚 Times Square to launch the 2023 Buddy Walk, an annual event to raise awareness for Down syndrome in the U.S.

Shy in her day-to-day life, it鈥檚 clear Annika transforms in front of the camera (@annika.jillian), leaving all her inhibitions behind-the-scenes to revel in the limelight. Once a shoot wraps up, however, the experience is 鈥渙ut of sight out of mind.鈥�

鈥淭he minute she鈥檚 done, it鈥檚 over,鈥� said Lisa. 鈥淧eople are blown away by the difference.鈥�

In Paris, Annika walked for La Belle magazine. She trained for months to master the precise moves that would be expected of her overseas, then hopped a plane with her mom for the Sept. 25-Oct. 2 affair.

The pair took in a few of France鈥檚 well-known sites ahead of her Oct. 1 debut, including the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.

Her time on the runway in the Le Bristol Paris hotel lasted all of 22 seconds, and true to form, Annika鈥檚 鈥渁lter ego鈥� took over for the duration.

Lisa described the experience as one of 鈥渢rue inclusion,鈥� one where Annika鈥檚 Down syndrome did not define her.

鈥淪he was just one of the models 鈥� just blended in, did her own thing. And that鈥檚 what we like to see,鈥� her mom said.

鈥淭he minute she stands out, she鈥檚 not included.鈥�