We all know the Gemma Ward modelling story by heart – Prada loved her, signed her and everyone else jumped on board. Then when Catherine McNeil signed a deal to be exclusively photographed by Mario Testino another star was born. So who’s next off the Australian model rank?

Abbey Lee.

NY Mag is reporting that she has been exclusively signed to just walk down the runway for the Gucci Fall 2008/09 show in Milan with Fully Chic adding that it was actually a two way fight with Prada for the young model. And Lee may walk off with up to $50k for the exclusive deal (minus agent fees of course).

“It’s very prestigious for a young girl,” her Australian agent Kathy Ward told Fully Chic. “She’s been ‘bought out’ to appear in one show – and obviously gets compensated very well for not appearing in any other shows for the week. It will set her up really for Paris [fashion week]. Australians are just the flavour of the moment. I think they love Abbey’s attitude as well. She has a real ‘cool’ factor about her”.

There you go aspiring young models – show everyone your fabulous personality and it could help you get more bookings. People obviously don’t want to work with a model (or celeb) if they are a sourpuss or difficult.