Nihal Tuğba Özay (born February 10, 1978) is a Turkish model and singer. She was elected the first runner-up in the Miss Model of the World contest in 1995. Early life Özay was born in Istanbul on February 10, 1978. Her mother, a teacher and an author of textbooks specializing in mathematics and economics, is from Antalya and her father, also an award-winning author of textbooks used in primary schools across Turkey, as well as being a poet and a man of literature, is from Trabzon, making her, in her words "a blend of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea". Özay developed multiple interests since childhood, writing stories and plays for children as well as poetry, and all at the same time engaging in performing arts and sports. She started her theatre education at the age of seven in Kadıköy Public Education Centre's Experimental Stage, which she continued until she was fourteen. During this period she was also active in writing many plays and screenplays. She did her secondary studies in Fenerbahçe High School and then registered in the Conservatory Music and Theatre Department of Haliç University, which she still attends between professional engagements. In sports, she was a professional swimmer in Galatasaray for about ten years and then she became a trainer there for a time. But since she was too young then, the ambition for becoming a swimming trainer faded soon. However, after having been discovered by Fenerbahçe, she made a switch to volleyball and played volleyball professionally for about five years. Tuğba is also an accomplished motorcycle rider. Since the age of eight she has driven a race motorcycle. She is also an expert in paragliding and Muay Thai. She took diving training at Istanbul Sailing Club. She retained an interest in arts also through this period and attended ballet and guitar courses in Istanbul University State Conservatory. During her school years she received a number of titles in art, music and writing competitions. Career Early career in fashion Tuğba Özay took her first steps into the world of fashion in a non-professional manner, having been selected in 1994 for a fashion show by the designer Ayla Eryüksel. Özay was soon remarked and shortly afterwards she started her professional career in fashion with a show by the Turkish clothing brand Vakko. In the same year, she also appeared on the TV series "Sonradan Görmeler" (The Upstarts) broadcast