Attempts made to tamper Face of 2009 outcome

Dec 4 2008 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

ATTEMPTS were this week made to ‘nobble’ two contestants in the Advertiser’s Face of 2009 competition.

We received calls saying that entrants Jennifer Derrick and Justine Semple wanted to withdraw from the competition.

However, when the Advertiser staff carried out a series of checks, the calls were found to be bogus.

Justine said she was stunned by the news that someone should try to sabotage the competition.

Forty-two modelling hopefuls are competing for a prize worth £1000 and the chance of a catwalk career.

Hamilton’s Premier Photography took photographs of our entrants at their studio just three weeks ago.

Now, after a week of public voting and more than 3500 votes being cast, you have selected our top 20.

Justine, who this week made it through to the top 20, spoke about the hoax calls.

The level three beauty therapy student who studies at Motherwell College said: “When I was first told about this I was really quite upset that someone would want to do this to me or to anyone.

“All my family and friends have really got behind me and have been voting for me.

“I think the competition is great and the prizes are excellent. I am really interested in becoming a model and this is a great opportunity to get some experience in this sort of thing.”

The 17-year-old added: “My mum Sybil has been 100 per cent behind me and was really quite upset to hear that anyone would want to do this too me.

“But she has told me to keep my chin up and not to worry and just to keep enjoying being in the competition.”

Jennifer Derrick was surprised when she heard someone had called in to try scupper her chances of winning.

The 16-year-old said: “I have no idea why someone would want to do this, it just seems a bit immature. My mum told me to take it as a compliment that someone sees me as competition. So I have just been laughing it off really.

“But I am glad the newspaper double checked and I am still in the competition and all my votes haven’t been wasted.

“I have no idea how I am doing in the competition, but it has been a lot of fun.”

JENNIFER DERRICK

JUSTINE SEMPLE