Having attended a specialist high school where all subjects were tailored towards commerce, science and business, her path was already being paved for a career behind a desk and excel spreadsheet.
But the Sydney-based creative with a passion for fashion had other plans.
Before her second year of university, Ann told her parents she needed to take a year off to work before getting back into study. A white lie she had to tell.
Behind the guise of a busy working girl, Ann spent 12 months teaching herself to sew in secret through YouTube videos and pulling apart her own clothes; building her portfolio and harnessing her talent.
She applied for every fashion course in the state until she was accepted into one of the best fashion design courses in Sydney at Ultimo TAFE.
It was then she had to break the news to her parents.
Now graduated, the 23-year-old is already making ripples she hopes to turn into waves.
Last year she was selected from a pool of 35 to exhibit her collection, A.N.X, at her school's graduation runway show to an audience of industry heads and scouts.
Her latest feat is being selected to present at Dunedin's iD Fashion Week - one of New Zealand's premier events with major designers and industry professionals as well as an emerging designers competition.
