Myf was born Myfanwy Amy Elizabeth Shepherd on April 4, 1991, in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Ironically, she had tried out for Australia's Next Top Model in 2007 just for fun, but didn’t make the show. Six months later she was shopping at a market in Brisbane when an agent from Chic came over and asked her to come to Sydney for some test shots. In true Myf fashion, though, she says she's "told that story a zillion times and it's boring. So actually, my modeling contract was first prize in a cutlery-free-jelly-eating contest."
 
Myf debuted at the resort Prada show in New York in June 2008, and has since walked for designers like Balenciaga, Chanel, Miu Miu, Christian Dior, Jason Wu, Lanvin, Fendi, Jil Sander, L'Wren Scott, Karl Lagerfeld, Prada, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, Givenchy, John Galliano, and Missoni. But her favorite was her first Marc Jacobs runway "because that was my first big show. It was more than just a runway show, too—it was a spectacle." And she has only herself to thank for being in demand from such big names. As Models.com said: "Myf bubbles with the kind of effervescent personality that spells 'cute,' but for the Spring/Summer '09 catwalks she has been nothing but the epitome of chic."
 
She has done major editorial work and been photographed by Sofia Sanchez & Mauro Mongiello, as well as Randall Mesdon. She's commented that "a few photographers have told me that my strength is that I'm not a model-like model. I'll do something—usually something weird or stupid—and if they like it, they get a shot. If they don't, I move on. The energy comes from being vegan. Truly, I always have energy."
 
Myf has been a vegetarian since she was 5 and decided to go vegan as a teenager. She admits she still eats honey and does buy leather—but only if it's secondhand. "I try my hardest to avoid animal products in everything I buy."
 
And her dedication and passion for her plight has made her very informative of her food choices. "In terms of protein, I think vegetable sources are much more varied than animals. Virtually anything made with milk can be made from things like soy, rice, almond, and hemp milk. There's also tofu, tempeh, natto, seitan, TVP, as well as plain old nuts, grains, and legumes. I definitely don't have a problem with protein. I think that's one of the biggest misconceptions about veganism. I could rant about this all day....
 
"On my last day in Milan, I had a whole hour off between shows—for the first time ever. I went to this tiny organic store that my friend had told me about, and after a little browsing I discovered vegan chocolate canoli! It was so chocolatey, flaky, and creamy. I bought about a dozen, which was just enough to get me through Paris!”

Obviously her diet is pretty healthy—aside from the occasional chocolate canoli-binges—but walking everywhere and swimming during the summer months help to keep Myf in shape. We're thrilled this delightful girl is making it and keeping it real in a potentially difficult industry. "I'm just myself...and most of the time that means being silly. I find that there's always certain energy backstage, even if it's a nervous energy that makes me want to play."