Fashion accessory ... Natalie Portman shows off her glowing style. Fashion accessory ... Natalie Portman shows off her glowing style. Photo: Getty Images
Since Miranda Kerr's nude magazine spread and Natalie Portman's Academy Award acceptance speech, the baby bump has become a celebrated fashion accessory - and it's about to hit the catwalk.
Mums-to-be will grace the runways of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week for the first time this year, in a bid to make the event more accessible to average Australians by celebrating the beauty of various body shapes and sizes.
Event organisers held an open model call in Melbourne on Friday, inviting men and women of all shapes and sizes to audition for a spot on the Spring Fashion Week runway, from September 5 to 11.

Mum-to-be Amber Beard said she had never done modelling before but was encouraged to audition by her husband.

"He thought that it'd be fun to be a yummy mummy," said the 31-year-old who is 30 weeks pregnant.

"I think it's fantastic and I think in terms of women's fashion, you can still show off your bump and you can be proud, it's not the sort of thing you need to cover up."

Paola Hernandez said she had done some runway work years ago but auditioned to show off her baby bump.

"I'm so proud of being pregnant, I want to show off my belly," said the 28-year-old, who is 21 weeks pregnant.

Seventeen-year-old Shelby Rolls took the day off school to audition.

"I've just always been interested in fashion and I love doing this sort of thing so I'm just trying my luck to see what will happen," she said.

"I know when I look at catwalks, it's like, no one looks like that really, it's good to see clothes on people who look like yourself."

One of the judges, Matthew Anderson, director and Melbourne manager of Chadwick Models, said he would be signing one of Friday's participants to his agency.

He said the judges were looking for people who could represent a broader demographic than traditional models.

"Retail is suffering and the event is all about driving people into the city to support the retailers, so the broader that we can be with the people that are represented and being involved with fashion, the better it is for the outcome that we're trying to achieve," he said.

Friday's finalists will compete in a finale on September 5, from which four models will be chosen.

AAP