Daniela Cott, a 16 year old poverty stricken young woman from the streets of Argentina, in a real life rags to riches story, has become the newest sign-on with legendary Elite Models.
Daniela was living a rough life as a cartonero, someone who wanders the streets of Buenos Aires, sifting through trash cans for recyclables to turn in for a few cents apiece, something her entire family has been doing since her parents’ lost their jobs three years ago.
During one of these forages she was spotted by Marina Gonzalez, the world-renowned necklace designer, as Daniela dug through the bins in a popular local fashion district. Overnight her life changed forever.
Gonzalez convinced the girl to take a few photographs, which were sent to a popular talent agent, and from there a whirlwind fairytale began, with Daniela going on to win the coveted Elite Model Look competition, which has launched such careers as Cindy Crawford’s.
“I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time,” Daniela Said. “The modeling work hasn’t been easy. I used to say that modeling on a catwalk or posing for photographs couldn’t be very difficult. Now I realize it is difficult, but not as hard as collecting rubbish.”