If anything if going to bring out my girlie side it’s Britain’s Next Top Model. From the 22nd-24th of October. The hugely successful reality TV show comes to the ExCel centre in London’s Docklands.The Ultimate weekend shopping extravagance has everything a budding model or fashionista would ever need.
I start by walking around all of the stalls, and check out the fashion and beauty products on offer. I get a free Tia Maria cocktail, but, amusingly, only after being asked for ID. I pop by the powder room where they are giving free make overs, manicures and massages, but decide the queue is too long. So I head to the Kiss catwalk to catch Diana Vickers sing. Her voice is amazing and you can tell that the entire audience love her. Her clothes are rocking too. Despite the fact she can’t tell presenter Emma Willis where she got them because, endearingly, she can’t pronounce the designers name.
Later on Alesha Dixon comes on the stage to promote her jewellery line. Dressed in jeans and a top, she comes on stage with a cup of tea that has some chewing gum stuck to the bottom – she says she didn’t have anywhere else to put it, she confessed she is still feeling rough from the MOBO’s the night before and went to bed at 7am. Alesha comes across as incredibly down to earth and shakes a number of the audiences hand’s after they ask her.
There is no sign of Elle McPherson but Charley Speed is here and brilliant designer Melissa Odabash is on hand to give style advice.
Later on, Molly Smitten Downes and Joey Bevan do a fusion of music and fashion. Molly sings her heart out and Joey’s clothes are beautiful. Very enjoyable.
One of the most exciting things from Britain’s Next Top Model is Global Cool. ‘Turn up the style, turn down the heat.’ I interviewed Gemma Cairney about her involvement with the company that let’s you restyle jumpers they way you want and helps the environment.
Gemma says: “Global Cool have given me even more of an incentive to encourage, big, snuggly jumper wearing.. Perfect! I like my jumpers big, often primary coloured and with a motif that’ll make others smile, so I’m more than happy to put my gob behind a campaign that can eventually help this important thing called the Earth smile a bit too.”
Wannabe models could also attend casting couch sessions from Rebecca, Elle magazine, Becca Cosmetics, Tia Maria, Models 1 and Wonderbra. So if you want to be spotted, hurry down to Excel.
Also scheduled to sing is Eliza Doolittle, Eliza told Frost this: ‘I love Britain’s Next top model so I’m very excited to be involved in the live event – I’m looking forward to having a sneaky look at all of the cloths and products too.’