Undeniably beautiful and destined for greatness, the 13-year-old's selection as a magazine cover girl has drawn criticism from media groups as being little more than paedophilia.
Facing some difficult questions for someone of her age - she had just turned 14 after her competition win - she is asked by reporter Tracy Grimshaw if there was anything she would not consider doing in her future career as a model.
No way: With a crinkled up nose and a curled
lip, a 13-year-old Miranda Kerr looks virtually disgusted by the thought
of having
her picture taken in lingerie
'You like the idea of travelling?' The question,
posed by TV reporter Tracy Grimshaw, left, is met with an enthusiastic
'Yep' by the gangly teenaged Miranda
Starting out: When asked why she wants to be a
model - if the answer isn't literally written on her face - Miranda
replies, 'I just think it'd be really fun. I love being with people and I
love fashion'
The young girl's feelings are quite clear on the subject, saying: ' I won't be doing any lingerie shots or anything like that.'
The year was 1997 and the barely teenage girl is Miranda Kerr, who would go on to be one of the world's most recognised lingerie models.
The clip was featured in ABC's Family Confidential programme on Tuesday night, which offered a unique insight into the model's family life.
Ten years later: Miranda of course went on to be
one of Victoria's Secrets most celebrated models, seen here on the
catwalk in New York in 2007
At least there's no lingerie: Miranda bares almost all in a shoot for W magazine
It did not deliver the anticipated answer to why Miranda's close-knit family now feels that it has been shut out of the model's day-to-day life. They claim they have not seen Miranda or her son FLynn for more than a year - not since the break-up of her marriage to Hollywood star Orlando Bloom.
But even her earliest of interviews provided a hint that Miranda wanted to leave her country upbringing behind for the bright lights of the world's biggest cities.
Grimshaw asks Miranda why she wants to be a model at all, and her answer is simple: 'I just think it's be really fun. I love being with people and I love fashion.'
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In Gunnedah: Therese and John Kerr spoke warmly
of how the family were all together in the norht-eastern NSW town, and
how they yearned for that family closeness again
When Grimshaw asks 'And you like the idea of travelling', the answer is an immediate and resounding 'Yep!'
In Tuesday night's documentary, it is clear that the rest of the Kerr family do not share their famous family member's desire to see the world.
The show started with Miranda's mother and father - Therese and John - reminiscing about the simple life in Gunnedah. Throughout the interview they, as well as Miranda's grandmother Ann, are at pains to show that they are still country folk who extol the virtues of a simple life.
Grandmother and brother: Ann says she fears that
her great-grandson is missing out on important family time, while
Matthew says both Miranda and their mother Therese are both women who
like to be in control
John especially made his feelings clear, saying he wished Miranda had never gone into modelling, and that she had married a 'nobody' instead of someone famous.
He almost proudly told the story that he didn't know who Orlando Bloom was when told his daughter had started up a relationship, adding: 'I'd heard the name... I'm not one for movies.'
He added: 'After what I know now I would rather she did just marry a nobody because you really can't get that family time by yourself.'And on the topic of his grandson Flynn, his hopes are once again homespun ones.
Happy families: An undated photograph handed out
by the ABC ahead of the Family Confidential programme shows the Kerrs -
Matthew, Miranda, Therese and John - after one of Miranda's many early
successes
Grown up: Matthew, Miranda, Therese and John are
older in this photo, and Miranda has clearly grown into the beautiful
looks that would take her around the world - and away from her family
He said: 'What I'd like to do as a grandfather would be to teach Flynn how to milk a cow, ride a horse, those country things.'
Similarly, Miranda's grandmother Ann lamented the fact that she hadn't seen Flynn, now three, as often as she would have liked.
She said: 'I miss the baby and I think he's missing out on family, that closeness that we have always had. It's very nice where they are but nothing like Australia, nothing, and I think hopefully Flynn might end up here. We just keep our fingers crossed.'
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With son Flynn: Miranda Kerr is seen with Therese and Ann at Sydney airport in May 2012
Reflecting? Miranda posted this old shot of
herself and her mother and grandmother on her Instagram page in
December. The model has made no public remarks about her deteriorating
relationship with either
In 2012, Miranda took over control of Kora Organics skincare line, created by her but managed by mother Therese.
Miranda made clear to all - including her family and those involved in her modelling career - that now that she was 30, she would be taking greater control of her life.
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Separated: The Kerr family say they haven't seen Miranda or her son Flynn for over a year
John spoke of his wife's determination and ambition, saying that 'she can get very blinkered' when going for something she wanted.
Miranda's younger brother Matthew added mother and daughter were the same in that they both 'like to be in control... they're leaders.'
Since parting ways with Miranda's Kora Organics skincare line, Therese has created her own called Divine by Therese Kerr, and says that while she realises her daughter's fame has helped get the 'message out', it has perhaps come at a cost to her family.
Breaking the news: John, pictured here with his
daughter and Orlando in August 2012, says it was the actor who confirmed
to him the news of the couple's separation last year, over the
telephone
Meanwhile, Miranda's mother Therese, who says she used to speak to her daughter every single day, is teary as she explains of how she had to eventually 'let go' of her daughter.
'What I have had to do is let go,' she explains, 'and allow her to be assertive and lead her own life and I guess for any mum that's a little bit challenging sometimes to do that.'
Therese says she now sends texts to Miranda to remind her that she's always there for her, but as she is filmed doing so during the documentary, they are not always immediately reciprocated.
Missing his grandson: John says he hopes that Flynn grows up and wants to be with his 'nan and pop'
'We have been best friends for most of our life. We used to talk just about every day. 'I send her messages, just little texts to say "I love you honey, let your little light shine, my arms are wrapped around you".'
Before Miranda moved to New York at the age of 25, her parents say they told the then budding supermodel 'the day you think you're better than anyone else is the day you don't model under our guidance'.
Therese says these days her daughter's life is completely different, but it is important as her mother says to stand 'true'.
Sexy selfie: Miranda posted this racy selfie on Thursday during what appeared to be a modelling shot
'Miranda's life is so different now [and] she's surrounded by yes people all the time. It's so important for me to be real, to be true, to be who she needs me to be,' she says.
Since parting ways with Miranda's Kora Organics skincare line, Therese has created her own called Divine by Therese Kerr, and says that while she realises her daughter's fame has helped get the 'message out', it has perhaps come at a cost to her family.
'You have to be in the media to be able to get your message out, but then our little Flynny doesn't know what it's like to walk outside without paparazzi,' she says.
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