Michelle Smith
Bournemouth Echo Friday 23rd January 2009
Forget the Rachel and the Pob, now it’s time to shine for the Michelle – the 1940s glamour look sported by the new Face of Mane Street.
Michelle Smith, 23, an interior design student, was chosen out of 225 contestants at a casting session held at the Cumberland Hotel in Bournemouth last autumn.
Seventeen finalists took part in a grand final fashion show organised by LMP Models Ltd to mark its launch as Bournemouth’s new modelling agency.
This year for the first time there was also a male Face of Mane Street, 23-year-old Christopher Baker, of Lilliput, who works as a sales consultant for a kitchen design firm.
He just happened to be in the hotel at the time of the casting and was persuaded to take part.
“I only entered the competition for a bit of fun. I’ve really enjoyed it and I would absolutely love it to take off as a modelling career,” he told the Echo.
Michelle was equally surprised by her success as she had only gone along to the casting session to keep her friend company.
“I’ve never done any modelling before but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would love to do some more.”
As part of their prize the pair were invited to star in a fashion photo shoot for Dorset Society magazine with Echo photographer Sally Adams at The Print Room in Bournemouth.
Andrew Bell, of the award-winning salon Mane Street, said: “We really wanted to find a classic face that reflects the current trend for old 1930s and 1940s glamour. Michelle has that classic beauty
and the perfect face to carry off this look.
“We decided to have a male winner, too, as we are a unisex salon and it added a bit more excitement to the occasion. Christopher is a clear winner and I’m sure he will go far.”
