Contest lovelies aim to make it a model year

Jan 8 2009 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

Contest lovelies aim to make it a model year

THE Advertiser’s three Face of 2009 finalists are looking forward to a New Year that they hope will bring modelling opportunities.

Suzanne Clark, of Hamilton, was selected by the Model Team Scotland as the overall winner of our competition which attracted almost 7000 votes.

The 24-year-old mum-of-two, who was surprised and shocked to win the competition, told the Advertiser this week that she plans to get her portfolio of pictures taken at Premier Photography in Hamilton later this month. That was one of the key prizes in the competition.

Suzanne said: “All the prizes were excellent, but I am looking forward to having my photographs taken professionally.

“I might even send them off to a few modelling agencies and see what happens.

“Winning the competition was great and I have received cards of congratulations from people I don’t even know. People have been really nice.

“We had a hectic Christmas with all my family coming round for dinner at my house but it was great and the boys had a really good time.”

Justine Semple, of Larkhall, who was placed second in our competition, also looks forward to furthering her modelling career in the New Year.

The 17-year-old said: “I have been approached by Eleganza in Hamilton who have asked me to model for them during their wedding shows, which is quite exciting.

“And Premier Photography also want me to be the new face of their website.

“I really enjoyed taking part in the competition and it was a lot of fun.”

Asten Hill, of Stonehouse, was placed third in our competition.

She said: “Lots of people have congratulated me which has been really nice.

“I am still really interested in becoming a model and if the Advertiser hold another competition this year I will definitely be entering.”

In November last year, 40 catwalk hopefuls entered our Face of 2009 competition in a bid to win some great prizes and be in with a chance of launching their own catwalk career.

A total of 6725 votes were cast during the competition as readers desperately tried to save their favourite from elimination.

It was just a couple of weeks ago that the voting process finished and pictures of the top 10 competition hopefuls were handed over to professional modelling agency the Model Team Scotland.

Cathy Owen, operations manager at the Model Team, who ensures that models and clients receive the best possible care and attention, was then given the task of selecting our winner and two runners-up.

Cathy selected Hamilton’s Suzanne Clark as the overall winner because of the young mum’s “natural look.”