Face of 2010 contestants hope to make it to the final

Nov 19 2009 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

ENTRANTS from all over Lanarkshire headed to the town’s Premier Photography at the weekend in a bid to be this year’s Face of 2010.

Many entered the competition because of the fabulous range of prizes on offer.

Others had a real interest in the fashion industry and hoped they could turn their modelling dreams into reality.

The Advertiser caught up with some of the modelling hopefuls at the weekend who will feature in next week’s Advertiser when the voting lines open and the competition hots up.

Sharon Kelly (22), from Whitehill, Hamilton, is a student at Motherwell College studying child care.

She said: “I've always wanted to be a model so I thought this was a really good opportunity.

"Ideally I'd like to do catwalk modelling. I did some catwalk modelling in Dublin for a company called Freesia and I loved it.

"I was also in FHM's Highstreet Honeys and I've been in the Sun and the Star."

Mandi Davidson (20), from Burnbank, Hamilton, works for the Co-operative in Burnbank.

"I was going to go for it last year but I didn't get round to it. I saw some of the people in it last year and I thought I might as well go for it.

"I'd like to pursue a modelling career.”

Claire Downing, (24), of Blantyre, is a beauty therapist.

She said: “I've never done anything like this before. I saw it in the Advertiser last year and thought about it, but didn't enter in the end. This year when I saw it again my boyfriend encouraged me so I've just gone for it."

Nicola White, (18), of Strathaven is a student at South Lanarkshire College studying Social Work.

She said: “When I was 10 or 11 I had some modelling photos done but have never done anything else since. My mum and dad suggested I come along to Premier for the Face of 2010 competition and I have enjoyed the experience and I am looking forward to see what happens next."

Hamilton Grammar pupil Susan Wilson (16), was prompted to enter the competition because of her mum.

She explained: “My mum suggested I enter and I just thought I would give it a go really for a bit of fun.”

Hamilton taxi driver Eleanor Lipman (38), was encouraged to enter the competition by friends.

She added: “I used to do some modelling years ago and people I know told me to enter it. It’s really just a bit of fun. I just wanted to enter to see how far I would get.”

Friends Chloe Dewsnap (19), a nail technician, from Hamilton, and Laura Marden (22), a student nurse, of Lesmahagow, were keen to enter the competition.

Laura said: “We thought we would enter together and winning all those prizes would be excellent at this time of year.”

Lynsey Dunn (18), of Larkhall, who works in two beauty salons said: “My friend entered last year and did really well so I thought I would give it a go this year and see how we both get on.”