Media office

The polaroids are dry and the nail biting is over, as the winners of Marketing Birmingham’s Rising Stars modelling competition have been announced. After an intensive modelling workshop at Premier Model Management in London, Laura Powell and Richard Carr have been chosen as the ‘Faces of Birmingham’.

Nineteen year old Laura Powell from Shirley was spotted by a photographer for Marketing Birmingham and asked to enter the competition. She says “Kate Moss is my favourite model and if my modelling career took off like her’s I would be ecstatic. This is the first time that I’ve entered a modelling competition and I am so happy that I’ve won I feel like crying! We had a fantastic day at Premier with all of the other contestants who are lovely. I’m so shocked that I’ve won – this is a once in a lifetime chance and I’m delighted to represent Birmingham.”

Richard Carr is a 26 year old bar manager from Birmingham. In the summer he took to the catwalk for a friend’s graduate UCE show and admires David Beckham’s sartorial elegance. Richard heard about the Rising Stars competition on Heart FM and knew that he had to take a chance and enter. He says: “I entered Marketing Birmingham’s competition as I thought that - if I won! - it could be a launch pad to not just a modelling career in Birmingham but for anywhere in the world.”

From the hundreds of entries to the modelling competition, Marketing Birmingham and Premier Model Management modelling agency drew up a shortlist of six including Emma Brack, Lottie Morris, Stephen Bourton and Daniel Brown. The candidates spent a day learning the tricks of the trade - catwalk, studio poses and industry insights from the agency that represents Naomi Campbell.

Myra Gonzales, Scouting Director, Premier said: “We scour the UK looking for fresh young faces, so when Marketing Birmingham approached us about finding a male and female model for their Rising Stars competition Premier were happy to get involved. We put the six shortlisted candidates through their paces, throwing them real situations and talking about the reality of a modelling career to see if they have the potential for becoming a professional model.”

So how did Laura and Richard fare with the model bookers at Premier? Annette Koomjean, Commercial Booker from Premier said: “I look for models with a spark about them plus great personalities and Laura and Richard have that in spades.”

Laura and Richard have won £250 Harvey Nichols vouchers and commissions from Marketing Birmingham to appear in marketing and PR activities. Dave Hodgson, Marketing Director Marketing Birmingham says: “The models are the first winners of Marketing Birmingham’s Rising Stars competition but there are still opportunities to enter the Young Photographer of the Year, Fashion Designer, Jewellery Designer and Fashion Entrepreneur categories. Deadlines for these are fast approaching, so check www.visitbirmingham.com/stars for further information and entry details.”