Former Hibs star Scott Brown judges women’s catwalk potential

HE has taken pelters for his dress sense after fashion faux pas like the “Rupert the Bear” tartan trousers he wore on a golfing trip with his Scotland teammates.

But that hasn’t stopped Scott Brown turning his attention to the world of high fashion.

The Scotland star is to scrutinise the catwalk potential of a range of women all vying to become Edinburgh’s answer to Kate Moss.

In a competition run by Ferry Road-based Manequin Model Agency, he will help select a winning model who will secure a year’s contract with the company, a portfolio of photos, beauty products, and guaranteed work.

Director Hayley Brown said: “Scott Brown is friends with my partner, and I thought it would be good to have a personality involved.

“We plan on having one winner from the event, but also use this as a recruitment drive. We can see how the girls act during a photo shoot and fashion show.”

The announcement follows reports that Celtic captain Brown, who lives in the Capital, has turned to a personal shopper to improve his dress sense.

Brown will join city businessman Scott Williams, owner of Boombarbers and Be-ba-boom hairdressing, on the panel of judges at the event next month.

The competition – Manequin’s Next Top Model – is the Capital’s answer to a string of popular television shows to have searched for women with catwalk potential.

Ms Brown said: “They are very popular shows. A lot of young girls aspire to be models and these shows show how hard it is, but they also show the glamourous side to modelling.”

Around 90 applications were received with a final 20 now set to appear in the final on November 13 at Lulu Bar in George Street.

The girls will be asked to pose in swimwear or lingerie and evening wear, before being put on the stop in a question and answer session.

Ms Brown said: “We want to give people experience and there are also a couple of girls who are doing it to build up their confidence.

“The prize for the winner is a portfolio and modelling contract to get their careers started. I’m in talks with a few other companies, to do fashion shows so the winner will have work straight away.”

Finalists range in age from 18 to 33 and come from across Scotland. They vary in size and shape as, according to Ms Brown, there is a lot of interest at the moment for both curvy and petite models.

She said: “We were really looking for a variety in this competition.”

n Manequin’s Next Top Model final will raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation