A Norfolk native turned model is back in town on Thursday to pass her positive message on to the Zone After School Program.

“I'm really excited to be here and to get spend time with the students here,” said Eva Serres a graduate of Norfolk Senior High School. “It was amazing that they were all so excited to see me, it's still so amazing to me that people are so influenced by what I do.”

Serres is quite familiar with the Zone program, as it was a place she frequented while growing up, though it did look a lot different back then.

“Actually when i was younger, Alexis and I who works here, she and I would actually come to the zone when it was a one room building with a hand made sign in the window.”

Since her days at The Zone, Serres has modeled for publications such as Marie Claire, in addition to walking for Christian Siriano during fashion week.

Serres has gone on to use her platform as a model to help spread a positive message to youth across the globe.

“It's not just about what you look like on the outside, it's about sharing who you are and doing what you love and living a wholesome happy life.”

But delivering this message on this day was a bit nerve racking for the runway model.

“Honestly it was a bit intimidating to be in front of everyone and put a face to the people who watch what I do,” Serres said.

But this couldn't possibly be more intimidating than walking the runway?

“More, (it was) definitely more intimidating because it's a group of people from the town I grew up in. This place is always going to be close to me and i'm always going to have that connection because it is where I grew up.”

And while she may have to leave her hometown again, she did have one final message for the youth.

“I guess just reminding yourself and maybe even saying out loud that you are worthy of whatever you want to do.”