Starlight on
Terry-Ann Lapa
Founder of Ethnic Model Management
August 13, 2025
Terry-Ann Lapa passed away in October 2019, forever leaving, “a displacement on our atomic plane that can never be filled. Terry-Ann was a LIFE FORCE.” [from ‘COLOUR-doscope‘].
Photographed by Dusk Devi Vision
This interview was originally published online in February 2017 for a series of Q and A personality profiles curated by TS Publisher Sandhya Dusk Devi Nand [at that time the Australian and Regional “expansion facilitator” for STELLA MAGAZINE and the Publicist and Photographer for STELLA RUNWAY].
Interview is republished here unchanged.
EMM story dropping soon.
Many modelling agencies exist in Australia now but very few cater for Australia’s multicultural population, a glaring discrepancy. The face of Australia is multi-hued, but the billboards remain oblivious with an occasional nod of tokenism.
TERRY-ANN LAPA is the Founder and Director of Ethnic Model Management, an agency she started in 2013 because of that glaring discrepancy.
Her mission was and is, to raise the profile of Pacific faces in Australia. Representation matters but isn’t commonplace and the shock of not readily finding that representation is what spurred Terry-Ann on to change that.
From its quiet start in 2013, EMM is now a respected participant in the fashion game, representing not just Pacific faces but models from all regions and racial backgrounds. Clients hail from the Pacific and Australia, seeking not only Pacific and ‘ethnic’ faces but the faces of Australia.
From its quiet start in 2013, EMM is now a respected participant in the fashion game, representing not just Pacific faces but models from all regions and racial backgrounds. Clients hail from the Pacific and Australia, seeking not only Pacific and ‘ethnic’ faces but the faces of Australia.
EMM regularly holds workshops to train models in the Art of Modeling, educating as well as nurturing and is constantly pushing barriers.
Fijian/Tongan/Samoan/Chinese, Terry-Ann’s goal is to help make diversity the norm and to make that norm the role model.
1. Is what you’re doing now what you always wanted to do growing up?
I didn’t know it would be up this particular path, but growing up I was obsessed with models and fashion.
When I was a kid I pranced around in high heels everywhere I could, I would hold my own fashion shows in my imaginary fashion world. As I got older I worked in administrative jobs, but kept my fashion creative juices simmering by drawing portraits of models, which evolved into designing an entire collection!
I launched the collection and label in 2012 and that is when I saw there weren’t many models around that represented “my kind”. I couldn’t find many models to be visual ambassadors for the garments I designed for people like me, of my colour, of my region.
After scouting models for my show, I started Pacifique Models in 2013. I called it that because you know, anything French in fashion makes it sound glamorous, lol, and it took off. PM evolved, so we changed it to something more in-your-face to represent my point.
We launched Ethnic Model Management in 2014.
It has been an intense time and a steep learning curve with many lows… and many more highs. Bottom line, I am now doing what I am meant to be doing. And it is all for the bigger picture of inclusion.
[“we” = Sione Lapa, Terry-Ann’s beloved husband and partner]
2. Time travel: when, where and why?
Hmm perhaps to times when clothes were grand, perhaps the 17th to 19th centuries, all that pomp and ceremony in life and in fashion. I’d also like to go back to the 40s/50s, where men wore suits and hats for everyday wear and women were always dressed to represent!
I like looking at old photos of life in the islands. Despite the shadows of colonization, there’s such elegance in the way ‘my people’ held themselves, their manner, their style and their swag.
3. What are you most grateful for?
I am most grateful for my life.
To be here at this time, to be alive in these days and to be able to make my mark on the world and to have the family that have, the friends, the work, I am so grateful for my life!
4. What are your best traits?
I am a people person, and I am a people watcher, a social voyeur, can do this for hours! Just as well I am in the business of Faces.
I LOVE people. I think we are the most wonderful creatures ever made. Babies and old people fascinate me the most, such innocence to such experience, such depth of life.
Of course I have bad days, so I see the world in a different light on those days, not quite so rosy, and people have so many issues to deal with and fix, both personally and publicly but generally I see beauty everywhere everyday.
5. What colour would you use to describe yourself?
Red. In red I see a fierceness that I didn’t know I had within me. Red can be subtle and calm as well, but always full of power.
6. Do you read? If so, 3 favourites (can be books, newspapers, magazines) and why.
I love reading. At the moment most of my reading consists of books about business and personal development, although a good fictional book will get me every time!
Currently I have on my desk:
Thrive – by Ariana Huffington / I’ll have what she’s having – Bobbi Houston / Like a Queen – Constance Hall
Thrive – by Ariana Huffington / I’ll have what she’s having – Bobbi Houston / Like a Queen – Constance Hall
7. What’s the first place you go online? Your 3 best sites?
Instagram; Most things I look at right now are fashion, makeup, model related so I start my day with Instagram. It’s research!
Gary Vaynerchuk’s site; my business inspiration for most days but I also see his work on Instagram or Facebook.
Google is the modern-day Oracle! Answers all my questions!
Gary Vaynerchuk’s site; my business inspiration for most days but I also see his work on Instagram or Facebook.
Google is the modern-day Oracle! Answers all my questions!
8. How do you deal with stress?
I used to swear by and thrive on stress, leaving everything till the last minute, but life is just far too busy now and I need to be organized otherwise I just get more stressed! Now I have trained myself (still training lol) to do a task immediately, but I also must write EVERYTHING down.
I deal with stress by pre-managing myself, but when I feel I’m getting stressed, I force myself to take time out and go to the mountain near my house or to the beach and just breathe, sometimes writing in my journal. Nature and her incredible ways works for me.
9. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done (so far)?
Living my dream is the craziest thing I’ve done BY FAR.
The twists and turns and ups and downs, they can make you or break you, but I’m stubborn and I keep holding on. This really is the craziest decision I have ever made.
Second to that it would have been the decision to have children. YES it’s fulfilling and magical, but it’s also crazy, and the grunt work………. no one told me about that haha, but my children are my biggest accomplishments but that’s an ongoing story 😉
Second to that it would have been the decision to have children. YES it’s fulfilling and magical, but it’s also crazy, and the grunt work………. no one told me about that haha, but my children are my biggest accomplishments but that’s an ongoing story 😉
10. What’s your idea of a perfect holiday?
Venice, Paris, Rome – for the architecture, the beauty, the history!
Singapore, Japan, India – for the people, and food, and majesty of the country and culture!
Venice, Paris, Rome – for the architecture, the beauty, the history!
Singapore, Japan, India – for the people, and food, and majesty of the country and culture!
11. Would you rather fly the plane or be flown?
I’d rather fly the plane.
I’d rather fly the plane.
Giving control over to someone else to fly me is fine, but if I had the skill and knowledge (and the money to get lessons and a plane) then… hell yeah I’d fly!
12. Do you have tattoos? Do they mean anything? If you don’t have tattoos, would you ever get one?
One tattoo so far, The word “Diamond” is tattooed on my left shoulder. It’s more than a word, it’s a connection.
One tattoo so far, The word “Diamond” is tattooed on my left shoulder. It’s more than a word, it’s a connection.
It’s my mum’s middle name, my middle name and my daughter’s middle name.
Before I had a daughter, I was asked to put my name into my sister’s daughter’s name; I chose Diamond as the name I contributed from my name. It’s something sacred and honoured within my family, it connects us, multi-faceted as we all are.
13. What’s your biggest indulgence?
Watching fashion shows. I know, predictable BUT they’re my stock in trade, so, it’s work… haha. Oh I love fashion shows.
Watching fashion shows. I know, predictable BUT they’re my stock in trade, so, it’s work… haha. Oh I love fashion shows.
Fashion shows transport you, just like a movie or a song would. I love figuring out what has inspired and motivated the designers and of course, seeing the faces that represent the times. I watch highlights of all fashion weeks all over the world (and there are many!).
I suppose this is also a form of stress release… but work! Research 😉
14. If you could eat only one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Sushi. All day, every damn day!
Sushi. All day, every damn day!
15. What is fashion to you?
It’s a story, a journey, a moment in time.
It’s a story, a journey, a moment in time.
Fashion is how we tell the outside world about us without words. It’s how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. Trends annoy me. Not that I don’t do any but, trends are so temporary, so fickle.
Fashion is the total picture. I’ll be in runners today and heels tomorrow but in all of that there’s a story to be told about me.
Fashion is the total picture. I’ll be in runners today and heels tomorrow but in all of that there’s a story to be told about me.
16. Do you have a signature outfit?
Much to the dismay of the people in my world I wear black on black most days. It’s my uniform.
Much to the dismay of the people in my world I wear black on black most days. It’s my uniform.
Whether pants or a skirt, it will more than likely be black. Up till a few weeks ago it was all about taking the effort out of choosing, out of matching, out of coordinating and… deflecting! Wearing all black for me was about saying “I am not where your focus will be today. We will focus on the task/event/discussion. NOT me.”
However… black now is something I wear to enhance who I am rather than hide… it is my badge instead of my uniform, and now that I am sporting this new do [close cropped blonde hair] now, I feel even more empowered.
However… black now is something I wear to enhance who I am rather than hide… it is my badge instead of my uniform, and now that I am sporting this new do [close cropped blonde hair] now, I feel even more empowered.
17. What do you believe in?
I believe in people. We are each other’s biggest resource. Be kind. I believe in fun! One life guys, just this one! Make it full and make it FUN.
I believe in love! Which brings unity, which brings peace and understanding.
I believe in people. We are each other’s biggest resource. Be kind. I believe in fun! One life guys, just this one! Make it full and make it FUN.
I believe in love! Which brings unity, which brings peace and understanding.
18. What do you want to be remembered for?
For being able to see beauty despite the pain. For believing in people, even when they disappoint. For being able to love despite differences.
For being able to see beauty despite the pain. For believing in people, even when they disappoint. For being able to love despite differences.
19. What’s the one thing that people misunderstand about you?
That because I’m good-natured and fun, that I’m a NOT a fierce crazy woman, haha. I’m polite because I choose to be.
I’m warm-hearted, cheerful, humorous, passionate and generous (typical Leo) but I will also be straight up and fierce and very direct when it matters (again, typical Leo). People think those two characteristics, cheerful and fierce, can’t work together but they do.
Harmoniously. Meow to roar and back.
20. What do you wish someone would ask you?
If I would like a million dollars, legally with no strings attached! Hahahaha.
If I would like a million dollars, legally with no strings attached! Hahahaha.
I have a very well rounded inner circle, there is nothing that is missing from my world that I wish would be asked of me. I have people around me constantly who care about my physical and mental health and who spend quality time with me, who would do things for me if I needed help and who give me what I want to to have a fulfilled life, so yeah, just the “mil” would be great.
www.ethnicmodelmanagemnt.com.
EMM no longer exists. Its legacy does.
[EMM story dropping XX/08]