Kanye West hires Halifax model for Yeezy fashion show in New York

A 24-year-old Halifax woman has gone from slinging beers in a localpub to slipping on the clothing creations of famed music producerKanye West, showing themoff at one of the most famous fashion shows in the world.

HafiiaMiraarrived at the Halifax airport Tuesday after being one of the faces of West's Yeezy fashion linefor the third time in a year.

She's home fromNewYork Fashion Week in which sheappeared in front of thousands on stage at Madison Square Garden.

"I still sometimes feel like it hasn't hit me just because it's been so fast,"Mirasaid.

She's gone from tending bar at the Foggy Goggle in downtown Halifax to meeting the likesof Drake, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar,and Justin Bieber.

Sheeven snapped a selfie with West's wife, Kim Kardashian West.

"It's just been so overwhelming. It's opened a lot of doors for me, in Europe as well," she said.

The Yeezy fashion line was introduced last year and features various clothing and footwear.

From Instagram to insta-glam

Mira says she's alwayshad a strong interest in fashion and grew up sewing something she learned from her family before they came to Nova Scotia as refugees from war-tornKosovo. She was eight years old when they arrived.

Last February,Mira was contacted through her Instagram account byWest's representatives. But it took them fouremail attempts for Mira to believe it wasn't spam.

"Then I decided to give it a chance and they went online and they proved they were who they said they were," she said."I got flown to New York and that's where it started."

After the first show, she gathered with other models for a photographic compilation orlookbookof West's debut fashion season.Mira, who has six brothers,says she seized the opportunityto show she was toughandnot afraid to be different.

She defaulted toboxing classesshe'd taken in Nova Scotia. Mira began doing sit-ups andpush-ups in front of the camera.

"I wanted to come off strong," Mira said, which she believes has led to being called back for seasons two and three.

This year, she was shocked to discover she'd been picked to be on the cover of this year'slookbook.

Mira remains one of only two models who have modelledWest's fashionssince season one.

Supported by 'amazing family'

It's all been whirlwind for her and her family, she said.

"I have the most amazing family in the whole entire world. I wish everybody could meet my mom. She should be the one getting interviewed because she has given me the support that I need to go so far. She's the reason why we are in Canada."

Mira, who's worked as an interpreter for non-profitNova Scotia Interpreting Services, now plans to launch her own swimsuit line.

Her experiences,from arrivingin Nova Scotia as a refugee to working 13-hour days alongside Kanye West,are held in equal measure.

"Canada has given us so much opportunity," she said. "It's given me a second chance at life, is what I always say to people."

"You can do anything you absolutely want to. You just have to keep positive."