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Maddison Gabriel is a fashion model who was chosen to head Fashion Week Australia 2007. Controversy surrounded this decision due to the fact that the model was 12.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has led a chorus of criticism on the choice of Maddison Gabriel, who turns 13 on September 16th, 2007, as the face of the inaugural Gold Coast Fashion Week.

I believe that I can fit into women's clothes, I can model women's clothes, so I should be able to do it," Maddison said. "It doesn't matter about age, it matters that you can do the job."

Her mother Michelle also defended the role, saying her daughter could be both a 12-year-old girl, and a young woman.

"For a 12-year-old I think she's handling it very well, I'm very proud of her," she said.