Elite Model Look || WORLD FINAL 2012

The press conference on Friday afternoon announcing the big night - the panel included pop sensation Jessie J and world-class DJ Bob Sinclar! 

Jessie J did several outstanding performances at tonight's World Final

Some of the spectacular entertainment

Catwalk shows included our very own supermodel Ming Xi, Michaela Kocianova and Noemie Lenoir

The girls entertained the crowd with several fashion show performances and outfit changes

The seamlessly beautiful Ming!

The girls wait in anticipation for the final 15 finalist to be announced!

Top 15 finalist, including our girl Gillian (standing at the bottom left)

Stellar performance by Jessie J

Past EML winners Josephie Le Tutour & Pauline Hoarau helped announce the grand winner

Marilhea Peillard was announced as the EML World Winner (with the runners-up)

Group hugs!

This year we have celebrated the 29th anniversary of our world-renowned Elite Model Look contest, and after castings not just across the entire UK & Ireland BUT all over the world (800 cities – 60 countries), it is in the beautiful city of Shanghai that young girls representing the most beautiful rising stars in the Elite Model Management network are gathered to participate in this prestigious event!

Tonight, in the beautiful Shanghai Culture Square, among the 60 finalists selected to represent 60 countries, is our very own Gillian Matthew who was this year's UK winner, is now competing and showing off her modelling talents in front of 2,000 guests. 

Much more than a fashion show, the Elite Model Look 29th World Final was a spectacular music-entertainment show which seamlessly travelled between runway competitions and vibrant music performances such as a live performance by the international popstar Jessie J and renowned DJ Bob Sinclar. The show featured exceptional catwalk sequences from our supermodel Ming Xi, accompanied by Michaela Kocianova and Noemie Lenoir – and the 60 Elite Model Look finalists. The finalists were judged and progressively eliminated down to 15, then the final 3. 

Our Scottish beauty Gillian made it to the top 15 out of 60 contestants and will not only have the privilege of signing a 3 year contract with the entire Elite group across the globe, but will also begin her Elite modelling career in hopes of following in the footsteps of Cindy Crawford, Stephanie Seymour, Gisele Bundchen, Fei Fei Sun and Constance Jablonski, all discovered through the Elite Model Look!

However, it was the 18 year old Marilhea Peillard from France, who was announced as the grand winner of this year's glamorous contest, followed closely by the two 1st runners-up Trinidad De La Noi (Chile) & Lorena Sandu (Romania), and 2nd runner-up Manuella Frey (Switzerland). The top 15 included: 

BELGIUM – Celine JACQUEMYN 

BRAZIL – Alexsandra BECKER 

CAPE VERDE – Alecia MORAIS 

CHILE – Trinidad DE LA NOI

CHINA – HanBing 

DENMARK – Majse MYLER 

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Ysaunny BRITO 

FRANCE – Marilhea PEILLARD

GERMANY – Victoria BONINGER 

HOLLAND – Isabella LOGMAN 

POLAND – Karolina KOPACZ 

ROMANIA – Lorena SANDU

SLOVAKIA – Silvia JAGOSOVA 

SWITZERLAND – Manuela FREY

UNITED KINGDOM – Gillian MATTHEW

The time spent in Shanghai was a memorable occasion upon which the girls lived a truly unique experience, both professionally and personally. It started with 15 days of intensive preparation which consisted of fittings, rehearsals, photo shoots, meetings with Elite agents, and ended with an outstanding show. And for the very first time this year, model “mentors”, professional top models – Ming Xi, Michaela Kocianova and Noemie Lenoir – have been in Shanghai in order to encourage and inspire the girls speaking truthfully about the ups and downs of the industry. They acted  like big sisters to these young hopefuls and helped them every way they could with careful guidance and constructive advice.

To learn more about Elite Model Look, visit www.elitemodellook.co.uk or www.elitemodellook.com

Gillian Matthew || InstaModel Diary PART TWO

Always travelling in style, of course!

Group shot upon arrival at the EML venue before the catwalk practice.

Gillian doing what she does best... Owning that catwalk!

The girls are perfecting their walks before the World Final this Saturday!

From left to right: Carson (USA), GILLIAN, Evelina (Ukraine) & Emily (Canada)

 In 'fashion class' with style expert Suzy Kellem Dominik!

After a very long day the girls finally arrive at the hotel...

It's been just over a week that Gillian's been in Shanghai in preparation for the World Final which is kicking off this Saturday, 1st December. Here's a little sneak-peak into her amazing journey for far!

Support Gillian by liking, sharing and tweeting her profile, as well as keep up to date with her Elite Model Look diary via her mini-site!

Gillian Matthew || InstaModel Diary PART ONE

Receiving hair treatment before setting off to Shanghai!

BON VOYAGE LONDON - at Heathrow Airport

The EML finalists are papped upon arrival at the Shanghai airport

Here come the girls!

Our girl Gillian in Shanghai

Behind the scenes at the Elite Model Look World Final preparations in Shanghai

Take a sneak peak into Gillian's InstaModel diary - from hair salons in London to practicing catwalk in Shanghai!


Support Gillian by liking, sharing and tweeting her profile, as well as keep up to date with her Elite Model Look diary via her mini-site!

Gillian Matthew || Elite Model Look World Final - DIARY

So today is the day when our gorgeous Gillian Matthew finally set off to Shanghai to represent the UK in this year's Elite Model Look World Final! Don't forget to support the Scottish beauty via her own mini-page on the Elite Model Look website, and more importantly follow Gillian's amazing journey through her diary which she will update daily all the way from Shanghai! 

View her mini-page & diary here. 

GO GILLIAN!

Read Gillian's Elite Model Look Diary entries so far bellow:

17-11-2012

Been out shopping for some last minute things for my trip! Went to see Skyfall recently and got really excited when they were filming in Shanghai - it looks like such an incredible city and I can't believe I'll be there in just a few days. 

15-11-2012

Leaving for Shanghai and still seems too surreal for me at the moment, I'll only believe it once I'm in the plane! I'm so glad to represent my country, and show the world that Scotland has its very own beauties. 

Gillian Matthew || Elite Model Look World Final

Guys please make sure you show all your support to our Scottish gem Gillian Matthew - the Elite Model Look 2012 UK winner who will be flying out to Shanghai on Monday to represent United Kingdom in the Elite Model Look World Final on 1st December 2012! Visit her profile here.

GO GILLIAN!

ONCE UPON A TIME IN SCOTLAND

Originally from Scotland, I was scouted when shopping in Braehead Shopping Centre in Glasgow one day, by the Elite Model Look team. To be honest it had always been at the back of my mind, as I was so tall and everybody always said I could do it, but I had never taken it seriously until recently. I’m really into reading! I can finish a book in a day if it captures me instantly. I’m also really into sport, although not so much doing the sport part though ;) 

I think at first my parents were a bit apprehensive of it all, but now they’re really proud! My friends are too, I miss them so much when I’m away.

Gillian Matthew & Conor Doherty || Hunger Magazine

Receiving this month's copy of Hunger Magazine and promptly opening the double page spread featuring the very Elite Model Look 2012 winners Gillian Matthew & Conor Doherty was quite possibly the proudest moment for us here at Elite and everyone involved in this year's EML! Clearly wasting no time after winning the competition, the duo were already shot by Rankin (the morning after winning EML!) for one of the biggest fashion publications out there, as well as keeping themselves busy whilst taking over catwalks during LFW this September - Gillian walking for Mulberry and Conor for Richard Nicoll!

And this is just the beginning...

Elite Model Look 2012 || LFW SS13 Takeover

For all of those who DIDN'T believe that the Elite Model Look produces some of the industry's leading modelling talent, then we have some hard facts for you!

Only three weeks into their careers and our incredible finalists already experienced their first ever London Fashion Week and walked for some of the biggest names in the industry:

Our 2012 EML winner Gillian Matthew walked for Mulberry SS13.

Maddie Seisay walked for Vivienne Westwood Red Label SS13 show.

Grace Anderson walked for J.W. Anderson AND opened Meadham Kirchhoff SS13 show.

EML 2012 male winner Conor Doherty was spotted walking for Richard Nicoll SS13 show.

Shea Thompson-Blake did Sophia Webster SS13 presentation and together with Becca walked for Kristian Aadnevik SS13 show (off-schedule).


Elite Model Look does supermodels. FACT.

Gillian Matthew for Mulberry SS13

Grace Anderson for J.W. Anderson SS13

Maddie Seisay for Vivienne Westwood SS13

Grace Anderson for Meadham Kirchhoff SS13

Shea Thompson-Blake for Sophia Webster SS13 presentation

Elite Model Look 2012 || Winners

The moment we have all been waiting for has finally come - the Elite Model Look 2012 winners!

Conor Doherty & Gillian Matthew with Michelangelo Chiacchio (CEO, Elite London)

Molly McGeachin, LOOK Beauty campaign winner

Gillian Matthew, Elite Model Look UK 2012 winner

Conor Doherty, Elite Model Look UK 2012 male winner

So there you have it - six months of searching the lenght and breadth of United Kingdom and Ireland, we are super-pleased to announce that we have our Elite Model Look 2012 winners: Gillian Matthew & Conor Doherty!
Gillian will continue to compete at the Elite Model Look World Final in Shanghai in December, and Conor will benefit from an all-expenses paid trip to Milan during Milan Mens Fashion Week in January 2013!
We would like to congratulate to both of our winners and wish them all the success on their journey to stardom! 

A big thank you to both Gillian & Conor for making this year's Elite Model Look a very memorable one indeed, and for setting such high standards for the ones to follow!

Gillian Matthew, 16, Glasgow

Conor Doherty, 16, London

Elite Model Look 2012 || National Final

The day of the Elite Model Look 2012 National Final has finally come – our 24 finalists were in full force for the catwalk grand-finale, where they showcased everything they learned in the previous three days of bootcamp.

On the morning of 30th August our gorgeous boys and girls were introduced to Ambika – the venue where all their modelling talents and hard work were exhibited to the public. With only a matter of hours before the final show the finalists got down to business and rehearsals got underway almost immediately, practicing on their first ever real catwalk under the guidance of our model scout Leah and last year’s EML finalist Kate Howat.

Not too long after the venue started filling with our incredible team of LOOK Beauty makeup experts, Billy and Bo hair team, stylists and dressers, catering staff, who all contributed all their energy and talent towards a fantastic show! LOOK Beauty girls created latest catwalk-inspired looks for the girls complete with glossed vampy lips and polished talons, while the boys were given natural and healthy looking glow! As for the Billy and Bo team, they were once again amazing as ever at recreating slicked back wet-look hair on boys that had timeless and elegant appeal, whilst the girls also benefitted from the sleek, gelled hair that showed off their stunning features.

The girls’ wardrobe looked enviously chic and fashion-forward that required not one, not two – but three outfit changes! The ever so talented Hannah Hughes nailed every look for each one of our girls - from draped evening gowns to dazzling LBDs. The boys looked exceptionally impressive too, to say the least! Laura Harvey used Topman’s latest designs to garb our boys in, adding a fresh and exciting spin to them. There were two looks in total; the first one had a very cool, relaxed edge, whereas the second look was all about sharp sillhouettes and tailored suits.

Once fully dressed and coifs groomed to perfection, the highly anticipated moment has arrived - our finalists then took it to the catwalk for the final showtime, taking their first steps on a real catwalk in front of a huge crowd of spectators like pro's! Both boys and girls looked like an absolute dream rocking that catwalk with a 20ft long rotating hologram behind them!

Needless to say, we were bursting with sheer pride watching our amazing boys and girls grow into world-class models! In one of the most priceless moments we have possibly ever experienced, the judges then announced (in what seemed to have been the hardest decision ever!) their winners. Our first winner of the night was Molly McGeachin who will go on to become the face of the LOOK Beauty campaign that will feature in LOOK Magazine and Superdrug stores nationwide. So without further ado, let us introduce you to our Elite Model Look 2012 superstars: Gillian Matthew and Conor Doherty – who both in their complete shock and disbelief did one more victorious walk up and down the catwalk, absorbing their well-earned spotlight moment!

So there you go folks – here we mark the end of yet another successful year of Elite Model Look 2012, that has without a inch of a doubt produced and nurtured a new wave of fresh faces that we are simply bound to see conquering our world of fashion!

Deuce up.

Image credits: Donald Chambers, George Naylor, Rokas Darulis, Jakub Koziel.