Models and Mortals at BINTM Live...
In her first post for handbag.com, Amy Jackson, the winner of our search for a style blogger competition tells us about her brush with model-dom (yes, it's a word!) as she hit Britian and Ireland's Next Top Model live...
OK, so I’m not going to lie about it. I rocked up to BINTM Live all new outfit, big hair, clashing bag and £25 of Topshop bangles slung up my arm. In my mind, 2011 was the year Elle would change the rules. Britain’s Next Top Model 2012 would be spotted, à la Jade and Imogen, today. This year, Elle WOULD want a 5ft 5 girl who doesn’t appear to possess cheek bones in her skull and is a decent size 12. Flashing my coveted press pass at security, I marched into the event a whole ten minutes before the opening time to soak up my new life as a model. Then I saw Jade Thompson. I am not kidding you, the girl’s legs are longer than my entire body. As the models got ready for their official photo call, I hung around in the background, hoping to get papped. Big mistake. As soon as the photo call finished, the doors opened and the girls queuing outside flooded in like a physical tidal wave. Never a fan of water, I swung my goody bag on my shoulder and sprinted in with the best of them.
BINTM Live is billed as the ultimate girl’s day out, and this couldn’t be more true. It is absolute paradise. The Revlon Power Room opened for business and instantly had a queue longer than the one for the toilets (which is seriously saying something). Adee Phelan himself was chopping hair, and the girl’s from Lauren’s Way fake tan were encouraging people to strip to their underwear and don paper hats like lunatics to be sprayed tanned Essex style.
The VnC cocktail bar was dishing out the most delicious Cosmos and Mojitos to the girls brave enough to drink and shop (my bank balance said no), and and shop they did. The stalls had everything you could possibly want, from vintage converse to T shirts printed with Chanel quotes (yes, I now have one hanging in my wardrobe). Every type of pampering was covered, from the lovely girls at the IloveCC counter, to the giant Elemis bus.
The excitement was constant. The schedule was so well planned, you could watch Amy Childs unveil her new fashion line, have a Q&A sesh with Grace and Charley, a little stroke of one of the Dream Boy’s chests and strut down the open catwalk all before lunch time.
It really was amazing to sit back in the VIP lounge (yes, I’m showing off) and people watch. Every style imaginable was being displayed. The TOWIE girls strutted around showing off their signature ‘Essex glamour’ whilst other girls really displayed personal style. Dip dyed pink hair was everywhere, denim hot pants teamed with (actual) stockings, chunky knits and brogues , neon pink lipstick brightening up slouchy grey leisure wear along with an overwhelming amount of wild hair, faux fur and boxy leather satchels. Sprayed on jeans with billowy chiffon, harsh eyeliner and delicate jewels was my favourite look of the day……closely followed by the one and only Grace Woodward sporting vintage Vivienne Westwood *swoon*.
After ramming a few mini cupcakes down my throat so fast I nearly choked, I followed the hordes of people going to the 2pm catwalk show. With seats on the SFROW I had the (second) best view of the show…… and what a show it was. Male models gyrated on ROLLERSKATES, bubbles fell from the ceiling and the BINTM Live girls absolutely killed it. Jade stole the show in every single outfit, proving herself as Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model 2011.
The models clearly put every last thing they had into the weekend. The show was flawless and well executed. They regularly came out from rehearsals to meet and greet and were seen promoting and helping other stallholders throughout the day. The designers and choreographers did an astounding job, as did all of the event organisers, and every single one of the stallholders.
As I left past the giant Karl Lagerfeld Diet Coke bottles (giving my favourite one a sneaky hug) I realised just how much work had gone into making the event perfect for so many girls.
I already can’t wait to go back next year….. Maybe 2013 will be the year Elle changes the rules. But in the meantime, I am happy to quote Carrie Bradshaw ‘I’m not a model, I’m a writer’ and reminisce about those bare chested male models….
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