Storm brewing for teen?

Published 2 Aug 2010 11:19

A LOCAL schoolgirl is proving a hit on the catwalk as the only Scottish finalist in a prestigious London modelling competition.

Marlies Roland, 17, has made it through to the final stages of the Gatwick Runway Models contest, a nationwide search to find the new face of UK modelling, and she is now nervously awaiting the results.

Houston girl Marlies has already cat-walked her way to the grand final, where only nine other boys and girls stand in the way of her dream job.

The top ten finalist said: "It's been really good so far, the whole thing is so exciting.

"This is the first time I've ever done any proper modelling and my first time in a competition like this."

The seventeen-year-old was in London last week, working through the model's bootcamp, where the potential catwalk stars were put through their paces to see if they had what it takes.

Speaking whilst at bootcamp, Marlies said: "I was really nervous about coming down to London and I think my mum is more excited than I am.

"Everyone else here is really gorgeous, but fingers crossed it all goes well, we'll just have to wait and see."

During the training day, the future stars were set many tasks to prove their potential and whether they would stand up in the cut-throat model business.

Marlies added: "I've thought about the industry and how harsh it can be at times, but I think that there is good and bad sides to every job.

"Being a model has always been a dream, but now I'm here - and I'm in the final ten - the dream has become a reality and it's just so perfect."

The UK-wide search organised by Gatwick Airport in partnership with top modelling agency, Storm Models, is the first modelling contest that Marlies has entered and she is delighted to have reached so far in the competition.

She said: "It's really good to be here, but I am really nervous because it's something I've never done before."

"I can't believe I am the only one here representing Scotland, so there's no pressure then."

The remaining finalists battled it out at last week's bootcamp under the watchful eye of Storm model guru, Jade Parfitt, scrutinising their every look, pose and move.

The Gryffe High School pupil is still undecided about whether to return to school for a sixth year, but if all goes well, she hopes to be jetting off for a career in modelling instead.

Marlies and her mum have now returned from the glamourous but hard working stint at bootcamp and are nervously waiting for the phone to ring with good news.

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This article appeared in The Gazette 28 Jul 10

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