But to Dubbo florist Jessie Poulton and her painter husband Ross, the 16-year-old female winner of Channel Ten's Australian Search for a Supermodel contest is first and foremost a precious granddaughter.

Nicole is one of four children born to the Poultons's daughter Kim and her husband Joe Trunfio who moved from Dubbo when she was just a toddler.

Yesterday the Poultons were going about their business in the Dubbo CBD conscious that Kim and "Nikky", as she is affectionately called by the family, are on the other side of the world.

Nicole and her mother are in the Dominican Republic where the new kid on the Australian modelling block is competing against 52 other nationalities for the title of International Search for a Supermodel winner.

It's been a meteoric rise for the Western Australian-based girl who began strutting the catwalk only 12 months ago after being spotted in a shopping centre by a representative of well-known modelling agency Vivien's.

According to her proud grandad it's not just great looks that have propelled Nicole into the limelight, but a special quality that no one can put their finger on.

"They say she's got the X factor," Mr Poulton said.

While helping out at Dubbo Florist yesterday he was asked if Nicole could be following in the footsteps of Australia's most successful model.

"That's what they're aiming at," he said in a quiet voice.

"They're sending her to Paris next year.

"They want to put her through and down the same line as Elle so that she's got an Australian identity."

Mr Poulton said Nicole - already a star of magazines such as Harper's Bazaar and Xpress - will relocate to Sydney next year to begin preparing for her international launch.

She has placed on hold plans to be a lawyer and has left school to concentrate on making the most of her blossoming modelling career.

"The world is her oyster," Mr Poulton said before professing that the glamour and fuss of the modelling industry hadn't changed his "down-to-earth" and casual granddaughter.

The winner of the international Search for a Supermodel contest should be announced this weekend.