New York Fashion Week model Sophon Aur discovered while taking out the TRASH

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Sophon Aur, 33, is a housekeeper at the Hudson Hotel in New York City, where Libertine had set up a pop-up showroom earlier this week
The brand's designer, Johnson Hartig, saw Sophon with trash bags and immediately cast him in his show for the following night
Sophon would like to continue modeling but said he will need to find an agent first

Published: 15:03 EST, 18 September 2015 | Updated: 17:30 EST, 18 September 2015

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One of the newest faces to grace the runways of New York Fashion Week isn't just another teenager who moved to Manhattan to make her dreams come true - it's a male housekeeper who was discovered while taking out the trash.

Sophon Aur, 33, was throwing out trash bags at New York City's Hudson Hotel on September 13 when Johnson Hartig, the designer behind Libertine, took notice of him.

Next thing he knew, Sophon was strutting his stuff on Libertine's runway the following night, making his big debut in front of the fashion elite.

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Fast fashion: Sophon Aur was throwing out the trash at the Hudson Hotel in New York City, where he works, when he was cast in a runway show

Getting discovered: The 33-year-old has been a housekeeper at the hotel since 2003; this week, Libertine designer Johnson Hartig was running a pop-up showroom there and noticed him

Video courtesy of Instagram/SaturnandMoon

Johnson was running a pop-up showroom of the latest Libertine collection at the hotel, where Sophon has worked as a housekeeper since 2003.

Noticing the tall, dark, and handsome hotel employee, Johnson asked him: 'What are you doing tomorrow night?'

He then brought the high-fashion novice back into the showroom with him, asking to see best model walk.

'They told me to just walk, look straight, and don't go too fast or too slow,' Sophon told Refinery29. 'So that's what I did. It's like when someone asks you to go to a party, you go to the party.'

Work it! Johnson (pictured) invited Sophon to walk in his Libertine show the following night and guided him through practicing his walk a few times

New career: Sophon fit right in with the other models, and would like to find an agent and continue working in the business

Fashion cred: The New Yorker (far right) wore a hoodie and playful leopard pants

With that gung-ho attitude, it's no surprise that the overnight style star was a hit at the show, where he wore a skull-and-smiley-face-embellished black hoodie, a chunky gold chain, whimsical leopard pants, and rainbow striped sandals.

Watching him walk and pose with the other models, who were similarly outfitted in bold prints, bright colors, and playful accessories, it was impossible to tell that Sophon had been on janitorial duty the day before.

Editor and designer Caroline Issa, fashion icon Iris Apfel, designer Kelly Wearstler, and model Ashley Smithy were all sitting front row.

'I was so proud of Sophon’s moment, I started to tear up a little,' Johnson remarked after the show.

Sophon felt pretty good about it too, divulging that he wouldn't mind continuing down this new career path: 'I'd love to continue modeling. Everyone at the Hudson has been so supportive. Now, I just need an agent.'

Happy designer: Johnson said he was 'so proud of Sophon's moment' when he came out on the runway

Scouting sites: Gisele Bündchen was discovered while eating in a McDonald's when she was 14 (left)

Chic story: Angel Rutledge was found in a Chipotle at the age of 19 (left, cleaning the bathroom at her job) before she went on to model for Proenza Schouler, Louis Vuitton, and Lacoste (right)

While his story is certainly fascinating, Sophon is hardly the first model to have been discovered in less-than-glamorous circumstances. In fact, it's his age - over a decade out of his teens - that really makes him unique.

Gisele Bündchen was discovered at the age of 14, while eating at a McDonald's in São Paolo, Brazil, while on a school field trip.

Angel Rutledge, who has worked with designers like Proenza Schouler and Louis Vuitton, was also scouted in a fast food joint when she was 19 - only in her case, she was working behind the counter at a Chipotle in California.