Shop Talk is written by OM senior editor Dayanti Karunaratne and Sarah Fischer, OM account executive and fashion maven.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be teasing you with snippets from our Shopping annual. And where else to start but at the very beginning, with our cover model Dina Renon.

As Victoria Abraham wrote in her profile of Dina, the career model has flawless skin, a slight frame, perfect posture, and glossy dark hair. In short, it’s nearly impossible to guess her age, and many are surprised to learn she spent two decades modelling in Japan. Her secret to success? Hard work.

“Being a model is really hard. You’re almost like an athlete. From skin care to your body to every single detail, it has to be perfection.”

Dina overcame the odds (including a gap tooth) to build a bulging portfolio, one that contains campaigns for Yohji Yamamoto Hanae Mori. Now back in Ottawa, she continues to be involved in fashion, walking at Ottawa Fashion Week and coaching children at Models International. Watch for her stellar style — and sparkling smile — on the sidewalks and runways of Ottawa.

Get the full story — complete with pics of Dina’s favourite things — in the 2012/2013 edition of Shopping, available at Chapters locations, Brittons magazine stores, and other newsstands around town. Or order your copy online by clicking here.