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Over and pout for Louise's TV model dreams

10/ 5/2008

ASPIRING catwalk queen Louise Heywood is adamant that she should have won Britain’s Next Top Model.

It was a case of out, rather than pout, when Louise, from Kirkholt, was given her marching orders on the third week of the Living TV contest, leaving 11 girls in the running to become the next catwalk sensation.

She was placed in the bottom two with fellow contestant Lauren Donaldson-Stanley after failing to cut it in front of the lens while riding a bucking bronco for a hairspray commercial, and posing as an upper class lady with a dog for a photo shoot.

But the former beauty therapist believes the panel of judges, including supermodel Lisa Snowdon and celebrity photographer Nicky Johnston, have made the wrong choice by eliminating her from the show.

And, after giving up her job in the spa at the Norton Grange Hotel to pursue her dream, she is determined to make it big.

Today she will celebrate her 21st birthday with friends and family.

And she is looking forward to impressing various modelling agencies with a portfolio including the professional photographs taken on the show.

Louise, who says she liked all of her fellow contestants and has kept in touch with friends in the house including Musayeroh Barrie, said: "Nicky was only a guest judge on the panel for a week, so how could he really know what I am like?

"But Lisa Snowdon seemed to really like me. She said ‘I’m sorry you have to go so soon’.

"I gave up my job for this and my bosses were really excited for me.

"Of course I could go back but this has always been my dream, ever since I was in Year 7 at school and I watched models on TV and in magazines."

On the first show Louise was compared by Lisa Snowdon to Coronation Street legend Bet Lynch.

She said: "Standing in front of us with her multi-coloured eyes and her glasses and a bit of a Bet Lynch style going on, but she photographs really well."

And she fought Louise’s corner on her final show when she praised her ‘great skin’ and said she looked like ‘an Eastern European model’.