Brighton steps up talent search

LATEST (16 November): Photos of the Face of Brighton winners (and finalists) added above

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This weekend, Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st, Churchill Square Shopping Centre will double up as a venue for the gorgeous and the glamorous, as it provides the platform for the Face of Brighton competition.

With the buzz of this year’s Britain’s Next Top Model competition finale still in the air, Models 1, one of the most well known modelling agencies in the UK, is returning to Brighton to host the contest. The 60 contestants, 30 lads and 30 ladies, will be (cat?) fighting it out to be one of the final 10, in front of agency judges and the Churchill Square crowd.

The Brighton launch on September 30 at Madame Geisha will reach its conclusion with the final on November 13, also held at Churchill Square, where the winner will be given a modelling contract with Models 1.

Sarah Grigg, the event’s organiser said about the event: ‘This year's Face of Brighton Search is proving to be bigger and better than ever, with hundreds of fantastic entrants - Brighton really is a city full of beautiful people!’

Scouting on the streets and in competitions is becoming a popular industry approach.

Ahead of their visit, the Models 1 team were recently scouting for talent at the Britain’s Next Top Model Live show in London, so we sent along Meg Harvey to get a sense of the occasion and find out what Brighton could expect.

Stepping into the ExCeL, it’s clear without any signs or banners what event you’re in. People of all ages are dressed to impress the modelling scouts, and thanks to an ‘open catwalk’, anyone can try out. Perhaps the next face of Reebok or Wonderbra is among the crowds.

The three-day event with the mix of fashion, beauty and entertainment gives visitors plenty to see and do. Stalls for modelling agencies to magazines and beauty salons are all here in their Sunday best.

An enormous catwalk show, with a 3,000-strong audience, featured some of the girls from this series of Britain’s Next Top Model, including the winner, Tiffany, who stunned the crowd in a mirror dress, reminiscent of Lady Gaga.

Eliza Doolittle also performed before being mobbed by young fans. Pitch perfect and singing live, (are you listening Cheryl?) the audience loved her.

Readying ourselves for Brighton’s event we watched two of the ‘casting couch’ sessions. Some girls clearly had model potential, while others let nerves get the better of them and appeared wooden. Note to self, we thought.

On Sunday, Face of Brighton shifts its attention to the region’s singing and dancing talents as open auditions are held. Hopefuls have their chance to impress the likes of Paulette Minott, of Pineapple Dance Studios fame, and leading voice coach, Sean Jeffery.

Modelling heats take place on Saturday at 11:00am, 1:00pm and 2:30pm, with Sunday’s singing and dancing auditions taking place between 12:00pm and 4:00pm.