UF student and Miss Teen Florida 2011 is the face of Adora Niles.
Tia McDonald, a 19-year-old public relations junior, was chosen from thousands of women to portray Niles, a character in the newly released teen fantasy novel “Fairy Tale — Once Upon A Time, Act 1.”
McDonald was photographed earlier this year as Niles for the cover of the novel, which was uploaded to self-publishing website, Lulu.com, by Australian author Somsay Toumngeun and formally released Sept. 15.
McDonald said she found herself relating to Niles as she read the book.
“The character has a lot of qualities that I represent,” she said. “I feel like it was a part of me as well.”
“Fairy Tale — Once Upon A Time, Act 1” is Toumngeun’s first novel. He said he plans to publish a trilogy, which includes two acts per part. The second act of book one doesn’t have an official release date yet, but it should be out soon, he wrote in an email.
He said he envisioned Niles as a confident girl “who lived by virtuous and unwavering principles.”
Books like the “Twilight” and “Hunger Games” series have spurred a pop culture phenomenon around teen fantasy fiction, but Toumngeun said his 585-page book is unique.
“What sets ‘Fairy Tale’ apart from the other teen novels is the focus of the story,” he said. “Despite all the magic, the monsters and the adventures, it is essentially about friendship and growing up.”
McDonald heard about the search for the book’s cover model through an international modeling agency. After the applicants were narrowed down by physical criteria, Toumngeun interviewed the hopefuls.
“It sealed the deal,” McDonald said. “I was so excited when he called and told me the news.”
She bought a $2,000 plane ticket to Australia for the four-hour photo shoot.
Toumngeun said McDonald lived up to his expectations of Niles’ character.
“Upon meeting Tia, it became apparent that she was that person, and possessed all the qualities I was after and more,” he said. “She is perfect for the part, and I feel there is no one else more suitable.”
Although she’s traveled the world gracing magazine pages and runways, McDonald said she’s proud of her appearance on the novel’s cover.
“With magazines, people will read them and then a new one comes out,” she said. “But I will always get to be the face of this fictional character.”
UF public relations junior Tia McDonald, 19, is on the cover of recently released teen fantasy novel “Fairy Tale — Once Upon A Time, Act 1.”
