Shana Mooyman used to be a glamour model before becoming a miner (Picture: Mercury Press)

A model swapped a life of glamour for a life of grit, after taking up a job in the iron ore mines of Western Australia.

Shana Mooyman, 25, from Bunbury, Western Australia started modelling from a young age, and was her face was often emblazoned on promotional nightclub and festival posters.

But when she was just 19, she underwent a complete career U-turn and became a mobile plant operator at a mineral sands mine in Cataby, Western Australia.

After six years as a miner, Ms Mooyman is now a fully qualified plant operator, and insists that she isn’t put off by working in a male-dominated industry.




‘I was a little nervous first coming into this work, being so isolated from everyone into such a small area grouped together with mainly blokes around’, she said.

‘But I survived my first couple of shifts and an older lady took me under her wing.

‘We started having after work drinks with my crew and that’s when the potty mouth started.

‘They converted me. I was now just one of the guys holding my ground not taking any of their nonsense.

‘You just need to speak up and don’t take their jibes seriously and you’ll be fine.

Shana is now a plant operator at Nulligane iron ore site in Western Australia. (Picture: Mercury Press)

Describing her decision to move into mining, she said it was a ‘new and exciting profession’.

‘Once I started I was earning more than I ever did locally and loved being outdoors all day. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else’, she said.

She has also spoken of the job stability that the career change has provided.

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‘I started modelling at a young age but it was never serious enough for me to take it up further’, she said.

‘When I was 18-years-old I did a lot of promotional modelling in night clubs, festivals and concerts in the Perth area’.

‘This involved photo shoots for particular venues to use for advertising purposes so I was plastered on posters for events also wearing certain outfits.

‘But I was paying off loans and needed a change of job so a friend helped me out.’

Shana Mooyman was a regular face on promotional materials for nightclubs before her career U-turn (Picture: Mercury Press)

Shana now has three investment properties as a result of the job, but admitted that it wouldn’t be for everyone.

‘In no time I’d developed skills to operate a large variety of machines such as excavators, loaders, dump trucks, water carts, tractors and forklifts – you name it, I’ve driven it,’ she said.

‘I’ve been contracted to work on a variety of sites including Gin Gin, Eneabba and local areas around Perth.

‘These would be a few weeks at a time working solo to get a job complete so I was stuck at the mines for long periods at a time.



‘It can be very isolating. Being stuck in a tiny bedroom isn’t for everyone.

‘But it’s been a great step for me and something that I never knew I’d end up doing.’