North West Evening Mail

Fab four picked for exotic trip

Last updated 09:50, Tuesday, 11 November 2008

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The four winners of The Evening Mail/Kells Modelling competition at The Nines last night. Left to right Georgia Andrews, Rebecca Harrison, Charlotte Martin and Paige Livingstone. MILTON HAWORTH REF: 0449701

TEARS flowed as the Modelling Competition 2008 reached an emotional climax last night.

In the second part of the grand final, Charlotte Martin, 19, and Rebecca Harrison, 20, were crowned winners of the 18 and over category of the contest.

Finalists from rounds one, two and three of the competition strutted their stuff in front of a 300-strong crowd at the Nines in Dalkeith Street, Barrow.

A bevy of beauties took to the stage in formal dress and, after a quick change, wowed the audience in a tribal-themed performance.

The girls were then narrowed down to a shortlist of six: Farrah Jones, Charlotte Martin, Rebecca Harrison, Rebecca Watts, Tori Mills and Evening Mail winner Gemma Louise Gilbert.

The judging panel, made up of former modelling competition winners Kirsty Price and Erin Hargreaves, and photographer Mike Kells, had the final say over which two girls would walk away with the star prize, a week-long trip to Fuerteventura for a photoshoot.

Miss Harrison and Miss Martin will join Paige Livingston and Georgia Andrews, the winners of Thursday night’s 16 to 17 final.

Winner Miss Harrison, 20, of Rydal Road, Ulverston, was speechless after the judges announced she had won.

She said: “I just don’t know what to say. This has been an amazing experience and I came here tonight thinking I would not win, but I was glad I had made a lot of friends.

“I can’t believe I have won – it’s brilliant. This whole thing has been brilliant.”

Nineteen-year-old winner Miss Martin, of Anson Street, Barrow, said she was looking forward to enjoying a holiday in Fuerteventura.

She said: “To be honest, I could not have asked for a better night tonight – winning was absolutely amazing and I am really excited for the photoshoot.”

This year, the competition has raised almost £2,000 for Barrow District and Disability Association.

Competition organiser Dawn Kells was on hand with champagne following the announcement of the winners.

“This year’s has been the best competition yet,” she said. “I can’t wait to go on the photoshoot with the girls. The judges have had such a hard job this year. All I can say is, watch out for the Modelling Competition 2009.”