BIG LITTLE STAR

This seven-year-old South African-Italian is getting invites to sit front row at New York Fashion Week

- ESEGO SEOKWANG

SHE'S like most kids her age - she loves playdates with her pals, watching TV, dressing up and reading. But unlike most Grade Is, Aria De Chicchis is a pose-striking mini style icon who spends her days after school shooting commercials, recording voiceovers and modelling at photoshoots.

The seven-year-old is also a regular on the catwalk and a face in the "frow” the coveted invitation-only front row at New York Fashion Week.

“She always sits front row and usually gets invited to the shows by the designers says Pam Mbatani, Aria's mom and manager who's originally from Cape Town and now lives in Manhattan with her daughter and husband Stefano.

"I'm always her plus-one. I'm her momager so I'm there with her. Seeing this happen for her is amazing.”

Aria's contribution to actor Billy Porter's Instagram lockdown challenge - to recreate his over-the-top Met Gala outfit using household items - was a hit on social media. The little girl's outfit was a catsuit from an old Halloween costume with some homemade wings made of cardboard and “mommy's gold sweater".

Interviewed by Inside Edition at the time, Aria said she admired how “he dresses up however he wants to dress and he doesn't care what people think”.

Billy, commenting on Aria's post, wrote, “OMG. Obsessed!”

The youngster has been a fashionista practically from day one, Pam tells us.

"When she was a year old, I would take her to Fashion Week and the photographers would take photos of her," says Pam, who worked in the beauty and fashion industry before becoming a full-time mom.