Warning! This post is pic-heavy, but it’s worth it (okay, so I finally bought a DSLR and I love it so much. The pictures aren’t professional quality but this was the first time I used the camera, without even testing it the day before.)
I have left my watermark off of these images, as if any of the girls who I met and photographed on Saturday would like to take the images of themselves specifically for Facebook and other kinds of use, they may. However if they’re being used in a portfolio or anything in exchange for money then that’s still against my terms, but I seriously doubt that will be a problem.
As I said in my last post, I was invited down to one of Ann Summers’ Sexy Uncovered roadshows to take some pictures, chat and then blog for them. Because someone will invariably ask, I wasn’t paid to do this, but seeing as I have a good relationship with my friends at AS I made the trip anyway with my friend Siobhan (Shuvvy, long-term readers may know her from previous posts,) to Lakeside and we went to make friends and do some shopping. (Although, we didn’t even shop much. However, I went to Shakeaway and introduced Siobhan to the world of milkshakes, good times.)
So! Lakeside is quite near Chelmsford, I think it’s technically Kent but it’s more like Essex. There’s the old joke;
“What’s an Essex girl’s favourite wine?” “Awww, why can’t we go Lakeside? Please take me to Lakeside. Go on – please, please, please…” Indeed.
I laughed when I saw this photograph that Siobhan took. I often do a double thumbs-up, and the fact that she captured it while I was “interviewing” made me smile.
First thing I’ll say is, the staff and representatives I met from Ann Summers were brilliant. They were more than happy to help me and Shuvvy get things posed for pictures, tell us what was going on and where, introduce us to people – just fantastic. Everyone was smiling and joking, the atmosphere was brilliant. I’ll also say that these girls are amazing at getting people to join in. I saw many women just sneaking a look at what was happening (can’t ignore the big pink signs and lingerie!) who ended up being drawn in and persuaded to join by the staff, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. I think some people were really shy, and these ladies were just the best. (Also, I can’t forget the photographer who was a really nice gentleman.)
I am terrible with names, so I am really sorry to all of the staff who I met that day, I only remember Soph’s name!
I stuck around for a few hours and got to meet some lovely, beautiful ladies.
Demi for example. Entrant #343! She’s 18 and didn’t hear about the roadshow until she came to Lakeside. She was the first person I chatted to and I think I came off a bit scatty, but I was just trying to get myself organised! She was lovely, and when I got talked in to auditioning by the Ann Summers representatives she helped persuade me too, and hey, it’s a laugh. Do I care if anything comes from it? No. Do I want anything to come from it? Not really, but damn it was funny. This woman has the most beautiful smile I saw all day, I would totally be behind her if she became the next face of Ann Summers. Demi, if you read this, I couldn’t decide which of these pictures I liked more, so I put both up – hope you don’t mind :)
Then I met Lottie, #351. Lottie is a 21 year old woman who came to Lakeside to look for football socks, not expecting to be coerced in to joining the Sexy Uncovered crew! Lottie works and also cares for an elderly neighbour. I also think she has a good taste in clothes, I love her skirt.
Once a handful of girls had agreed to join in and filled out their application forms everyone had to do a solo walk up the cat-walk and pose at the end, then do the same in a group. This is the one that I got pulled in to, as you can see this is my, “Oh my god, I can’t believe you talked me in to doing this,”-face.
Then, back to work!
This is Dayo, #351 she’s 30 and came shopping with her husband and son. She lives in nearby Southend and her hair is stunning.
Look at this woman! Gorgeous.
Some of the fantastic Ann Summers ladies, behind the scenes.
Some of the fabulous contestants (including Dayo, above!) having fun on the runway. Seriously, I really enjoyed the day and I know that the girls auditioning really had fun too – as you can see :)
And this little dude wanted in too. His Mum was auditioning, but he seemed to take main stage.
Next round! This is Cynthia and Olivia, 26 and 31 respectively. These ladies were catching up with each other as old friends, going out to dinner together when they spotted the AS roadshow and were tempted to join in. Both said they think they would make great faces of Ann Summers – and I agree – plus, if they did, it would be “cool to get some free stuff.” Haha. These are girls after my own heart.
Stephanie, 23, #360 and her cousin Katie were both looking to join in. Unfortunately Katie was under 18 and unable to join to model for the competition, but Stephanie did! Katie is thinking about a future in modelling, and I can see why. Stephanie is running her own business as a nail technician and is in the final 10 of a large competition in her business field – best of luck to her! She was really sweet and friendly, very down to earth and looked fantastic on the catwalk too.
Lastly, Georgina, 19. #362. She happened to be out shopping with her Mum when she caught a glance of the roadshow. Georgina is a model and had been out during the morning actually having photo shoots done, so it was an odd coincidence that she saw Sexy Uncovered down at Lakeside! Georgina has actually got a small part in Eastenders coming up and I can definitely see a lot of work in her future. She’s bright and bubbly, very friendly and – naturally – beautiful. Georgina is quite petite height-wise and feels it would be nice to see some girls with different figures, especially shorter ladies who still have large busts, as they’re quite rare in modelling and fashion at the moment. Modelling makes Georgina happy, and you can tell :)
The lady here on the furthest left is Soph, she was fantastic and, as unfortunately I couldn’t meet with my main Ann Summers contact, Jessica, Soph was there to greet me and chat with. We spoke about how, by bringing Ann Summers out of the actual shop, it breaks down a barrier. Some ladies (and gents) are afraid of entering the stores as they may feel it’s seedy or that they’d be judged – it’s quite the opposite. I’ve been in a few Ann Summers shops and I can say that the staff in there are really fun and friendly, if you need any help they’re there. It’s not seedy, in fact it’s as friendly and “classy,” I suppose you’d say, as other lingerie shops such as La Senza (I actually prefer AS, because they go further than just the clothing.) In a very non-threatening way this roadshow has brought a lot of girls looking at Ann Summers as a company to consider for future purchases, throwing aside brand conceptions. Secondly, by opening up the roadshow to so many people the people at Ann Summers are really hoping to get some ladies of different sizes to audition to be the new face of Ann Summers, and I saw this. The ladies who were inviting people to join held no qualms with inviting small girls, big girls, tall, short, plus size, straight size, any colour – every woman was invited to join.
I do not envy the person who has to make the choice of who goes through to the next round. I really don’t.
Thanks to all the ladies who auditioned, I wish everyone the best of luck! And, to the girls at Ann Summers who had me and my mate floating around and generally trying not to get in the way I also say thanks :D You’re the best and every one of you represent your company in a good light.
