Star in a Bra
Star in a Bra is an annual lingerie competition open to the public run by lingerie company Curvy Kate in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Australia and the United States. The competition began in 2008 in the UK and Ireland and has since grown to Australia in 2011 and the United States in 2012.
UK and Ireland competitions
2008
The first winner voted for by the public was Emma Tabor from Pembroke, Wales [1] beating Rebecca Guthrie and Laura Butler. The other finalists were Lucy Warren, Erika Wilkinson, Holly Wilkins, Stephanie Croswaite, Zoe Hardman, Lara Brandt and Ashleigh Cowie.[2](subscription required)
Third place contestant Laura Butler from Birmingham went on to become a Curvy Kate model afterwards and remains so in 2013.[3] She made national headlines in February 2013 when it was revealed she continues to work full-time as an A-Level teacher in psychology and dance whilst modelling for Curvy Kate.[4][5]
2009
Lauren Colfer from Catford beat Daisy Hill and Nadine Kennedy in the public vote.[6] The other finalists were Olivia Kelly, Samantha George, Catherine Callicott, Irene Clita, Victoria Cross, Leela Tikadar and Annabelle May.[7](subscription required)
Lauren and runner-up, Daisy Hill from Gillingham were offered modelling contracts with Curvy Kate after the competition.[8] Lauren continues to model for Curvy Kate whilst Daisy continued until the end of 2011.
2010
Laura Ann Smith from Bonnybridge, Scotland beat Anna Broadley and Lauren Sadler in the 2012 competition.[9](subscription required) The other finalists in 2010 were Carrie Hunter, Helen Milnes, Kirsty Smyth, Gemma Uglow, Tora Atkinson, Rebecca McEwen and Jessica Nilsson.[10](subscription required)
Laura won a one-year modelling contract with Curvy Kate by winning the public vote.
2011
Lizzie Haines from Uppingham beat Emma Donaghy and Georgina Horne.[11] The other finalists were Jordan Reid, Lauren Pickles, Kelly Parks, Amanda Navin, Sophia Jenner, Astrid Lopez and Hannah Elizabeth Rowe.[12]
As well as winning the one year modelling contract with Curvy Kate, Lizzie went on the win the Plus Size Model of the Year at the Plus Size Awards in December 2011 [13] which coupled with the Star in a Bra win made national headlines in January 2012 [14]
2012
The start of the 2012 competition saw record numbers of applications with over 300 in the first 3 days.[15] and over 1000 entries overall.[16]
Sophie Morgan from Guernsey beat Charlotte Upton and Abby Russell in the 2012 competition. The other finalists were Victoria Holmden, Alice Rose Rayman, Hattie Bland, Rachael Holmes, Jesse James, Jade Emery and Madeleine Havell.[17]
Sophie won a one-year contract with Curvy Kate whilst runner up Charlotte Upton from Preston was also offered a modelling contract.
2013
Finalist Alice Jackson from Norwich made national headlines in April 2013 after she revealed she had suffered from Anorexia in June 2006 losing 2 stones in just three months to weigh just 7 stone 10 lbs (49.0 kg).[18][19]
Lotte Williams from Colchester beat Georgie Hughes and Chantelle Crabb in the 2013 competition. The other finalists were Sonya Kainth, Abbie Tew, Alice Jackson, Annabel Challenger, Dominique Wells, Grace Pybus and Rachel Nicoletti.
Lotte will become the face of Curvy Kate for the 2014 lingerie collections and appear in Cosmo Magazine.
Australian and United States Competitions
2011 Australia
Star in a Bra launched in Australia in early 2011 to coincide with Curvy Kate launching their spring/summer 2011 collection.
Julia Mclean from Brisbane[20] beat over 200 entries.[21] to win the 2011 competition. The four other finalists were Anna Beere, Lydia Wilson, Mariko Everett and Rebecca Davey. [22]
Julia won a one-year modelling contract with Curvy Kate for the 2011/2012 collections.
2012 Australia
The 2012 competition started in June 2012 with Cassie Hayes from Tasmania announced as the winner in September.
Cassie beat Cherine Exadactylos, Mindy Reading, Sophie Shaw and Carley Austin in the final by public vote to win a one-year modelling contract with Curvy Kate for 2013.
2012 United States
Star in a Bra launched in the United States in April 2012 to coincide with the launch of Curvy Kate spring/summer 2012 collection.[23]
Krista Cousins from Brooklyn, New York beat Cristyen Fowler and Brittany Jencks in the final [24] to win a one-year contract modelling Curvy Kate.
The other finalists were Michaela Duerson, Tiffany Schmidt, Danielle White, Rhiannon Mariani, Jackie Flores and Katie Simpson.[25]
Krista also becomes the second ethnic model to represent Curvy Kate after 2009 UK and Ireland runner-up Daisy Hill who represented Curvy Kate between 2009-2011.
References
- ↑ "Emma’s a real star in a bra". WalesOnline. 2008-09-21. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ Best, Diana (2011-01-12). "Bra-vo for real curvy women". The Sun. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Our Models are Real Women ~ Curvy Kate". Curvykate.com. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ Randall, Kate (2013-02-20). "Model Miss: A-level teacher Laura Butler teaches psychology and dance by day and models full-figured lingerie by night". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ Fricker, Martin (2013-02-20). "Teacher lands role as lingerie model: Laura Butler wins Curvy Kate contest". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Lauren Colfer: Star in a Bra 2009 Winner!". The Lingerie Post. 2009-08-05. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ Battle, Bella (2012-07-25). "Meet the Star in a Bra finalists". The Sun. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Our Models are Real Women". Curvykate.com. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ Martin, Charlotte (2010-06-19). "Laura Ann is our Star in a Bra". The Sun. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ Martin, Charlotte (2011-01-12). "Vote for your Star in a Bra". The Sun. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑
- ↑ "Star in a bra top 10 finalists". Bratabase. 2011-04-19. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Lizzie Haines from Uppingham wins the Plus Size Model of the Year Award 2011". Stamford Mercury. 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ Whitelocks, Sadie (2012-01-09). "Lizzie Haines, once taunted about her body, crowned plus size model of the year". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Record numbers apply to be Star in a Bra 2012". Lingerieinsight.com. 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Entries triple for Star in a Bra 2012". Lingerieinsight.com. 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Star in a Bra 2012 – TOP TEN!". Sophiajenner.wordpress.com. 2012-04-19. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ De Lacey, Martha (2013-04-22). "'Anorexia trapped me but now I adore my curves': Bournemouth University fashion graduate beats eating disorder to be Curvy Kate lingerie model". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ Garland, Ian (2013-04-23). "Anorexic piles on weight to become curvy model | The Sun |Features". The Sun. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Curvy Kate's Aussie Bra Star Revealed: Julia McLean!". Invest In Your Chest. 2011-09-13. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Brisbane Student Crowned First Australian Star in a Bra". Thelingeriejournal.com. 2011-09-13. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Gallery: 'Star in a Bra' Australia Top 5". Lingerieinsight.com. 2011-08-31. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Curvy Kate Launches US Star-in-A-Bra Contest". Thelingeriejournal.com. 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Star in a Bra: Curvy Kate World Domination! - Invest In Your Chest". Invest In Your Chest. 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
- ↑ "Star in a Bra USA Top 10 Announced". Blog.curvykate.com. 2012-05-31. Retrieved 2013-11-06.