A PENDLE woman is setting her sights on being Britain’s next top model after reaching the final of a national modelling competition.
Natalie Green (25) of Berkeley Street, Nelson, is in the running for the title of Top Model UK 2012 in which she is down to the competition’s final 40.
To get this far Natalie has had to fend off competition from 4,000 other hopefuls from across the UK but now has every chance of being crowned winner of the commercial category.
The Marks and Spencer visual merchandiser, who studied art at Nelson and Colne College after leaving Park High School, said she couldn’t believe how far she had got.
“I’ve done a little bit of modelling before and entered a couple of competitions but I was about to give up when my friends suggested I entered the competition in the commercial category.
“You didn’t have to be a certain height or weight and within a week I got sent an invitation for a casting in London with the other girls. We got whittled down throughout the day and then I was asked to go back to London a couple more times.”
Top Model UK is in its sixth year and in 2011 expanded into the international market with top model worldwide.
Natalie added: “It is not a beauty pageant but prides itself on their pure model search ethos. I’m really excited about doing it. It’s a nice chance for me as I’m 25 and it’s probably the last chance I’ll get.
“Everyone has been really supportive and I can’t wait to see what happens.”
Natalie’s fate will be decided when she struts her stuff on the runway on March 16th at the grand final at the Hilton London Metropole. If successful she will be introduced to the model industry and signed to an agency.
In addition to the Top Model being a major UK and international model search, the competition adopts a chosen charity to help raise awareness for and support.
This year they will be supporting the Great Ormond Street cancer charity Children with Cancer UK and money is raised through the public voting for their favourite mode.
Votes cost £1 and all the money goes straight to the charity. To help with Natalie’s model quest and support Children with Cancer UK visit {http://www.topmodeluk.com/#/natalieg/45574|www.topmodeluk.com/#/natalieg/4557488634}