Kelly Cunningham
Been a model is something most girls and women dream of but it's not a job real women could ever do is it? We ask Kelly Cunningham who is living the dream after winning Coleen's Real Women where super WAG Coleen Rooney searches for a real woman to break into the very tough modelling industry.
Hi Kelly, how did you get involved with the programme?
Well it was back in September I got a phone call and my Nan had sent my photo in and I got a phone call from Coleen's Real Women asking if I'd like to come to a casting and I didn't really know anything about it till I spoke to my family and they said they'd sent my photo in back in March. I thought I'd give it a go and see what happens and the whole day was quite interesting really because I felt a bit silly been there and felt a bit funny about it all, I'm not that sort of person who wants to be in the limelight too much. I was thinking of going home at about lunchtime and said to myself, 'if they make me take my clothes off I'll go home' but I actually ended up staying there till about eight o'clock at night, till the very end! It was quite an experience
Did you ever think that you'd make the final three?
It's hard to say because you're in a room full of about 70 girls. You sort of look around and think, 'oh they're definitely going to get it' and some of the girls were a lot more outspoken and chatty. I was fairly chatty but I didn't think my personality was shining across anyone else. There was some really bubbly girls with funky hair, who looked really cool so I didn't really think it. But them when you start to get down to the final ten and then final three you start to get really nervous and you really want it because it became real. It was amazing to get through in the end.
Had you ever thought about modelling before?
I used to do the odd bit of promotional work when I was younger which involved some brands taking photos of you but I didn't think about taking it any further because I went into a different career and just carried on with that but I enjoyed doing it when I was younger.
What was it like working with Coleen?
It was really good actually. She was really down to earth and she just felt like one of the other girls. She's not at all a diva, she's really friendly and if ever we were off camera she'd still chat to us. She was really funny, I even heard her on the phone to Wayne a few times asking what was for dinner and stuff like that! She's completely normal! She's completely right for that programme as well.
When you went for the casting did you feel like the real models were any different to you three or did you think you and the other two girls had just as good a shot?
Well it was weird because I looked around and some of the models I recognised from campaigns. There was one particular girl who I've seen around on a lot of adverts and she's been modelling for about ten years and there's one that's just done the Head and Shoulders advert so I recognised her. The only thing that really stood out for me was that they were very tall and very skinny but that was probably because we weren't, so to speak, because we were Coleen's real women. We all swapped our books to have a look and they were very complimentary about ours. It was quite a nice environment, there wasn't too much standoffishness.
Has winning the competition changed you?
I wouldn't say it's changed me, it's made me feel more optimistic about the future and opportunities and it's certainly brought out a bit more confidence in how I feel about myself. Doing the programme, getting our photos taken, we had the shoot down at Whitstable, we had some lovely beach shots and having those to remember the whole experience by is nice and obviously I've just done the shoot for KitKat Senses, I did that last week, so I'm waiting for that image to come through.
Have you not seen it yet?
I haven't no. I've seen it on screen, they're gonna choose one as we took so many. There's possibly about 400 pictures so they've got to choose the final one and then they're gonna let me know.
Kelly in the KitKat advert
What do you think makes you more 'real' than other models in the industry?
I think I've got curves which other models don't. I'm a size 10, I'm quite slim but I've got curves and I've got hips. I think normal models are just very straight up and down and the skinnier the better, that's the way it comes across and I think it's just really testing the industry to have someone who's shorter and curvier going for the same sort of jobs, but I think when you see the picture it won't actually make any difference.
Do you think that the modelling industry needs to change?
I think it does yeah. I think there's a lot of emphasise on not eating a lot in order to get jobs and now a lot of young girls go into it, like 15, 15 year olds, I think it's just the wrong message to send out to them.
It's really early to be starting all that isn't it?
Yeah, really early and you haven't developed your own confidence and who you are and what you're about, so to be suddenly flung into this industry where you have to belike this, I think it's quite hard for them.
You've now got the chance of winning a big modelling contract with Premier, how do you feel about that?
Well I didn't go ahead with the programme for that, obviously that's a bonus. I loved having my photo taken but I'm quite smiley in front of the camera, I don't really do other poses and I think what models have to do is be really flexible in their character and their look and I just feel like I laugh every time I'm in front of the camera! You have to be really flexible and know how to stand and how to look so I'm not holding out any hope really but if the opportunity did arise it would be an amazing opportunity to take up.
Wether you win or not do you want to continue modelling?
I think I'd wait until the programme comes up because there's been quite a delay in filming and it coming out and it's all gone a bit flat. I think I'd wait until it comes out, judge peoples reactions and see if anything comes my way then. I don't know if I'd actively go out, but I may send the pictures to a few people to see if there's any possibility because I quite like having lots of different opportunities in my life, I like doing lots of exciting things that are all different and not related so it could be a good way to go if anyone ever takes me on!
Kelly Cunningham won the Kit Kat Senses episode on Coleen’s Real Women and now appears on their print advertising.
Been a model is something most girls and women dream of but it's not a job real women could ever do is it? We ask Kelly Cunningham who is living the dream after winning Coleen's Real Women where super WAG Coleen Rooney searches for a real woman to break into the very tough modelling industry.
Hi Kelly, how did you get involved with the programme?
Well it was back in September I got a phone call and my Nan had sent my photo in and I got a phone call from Coleen's Real Women asking if I'd like to come to a casting and I didn't really know anything about it till I spoke to my family and they said they'd sent my photo in back in March. I thought I'd give it a go and see what happens and the whole day was quite interesting really because I felt a bit silly been there and felt a bit funny about it all, I'm not that sort of person who wants to be in the limelight too much. I was thinking of going home at about lunchtime and said to myself, 'if they make me take my clothes off I'll go home' but I actually ended up staying there till about eight o'clock at night, till the very end! It was quite an experience
Did you ever think that you'd make the final three?
It's hard to say because you're in a room full of about 70 girls. You sort of look around and think, 'oh they're definitely going to get it' and some of the girls were a lot more outspoken and chatty. I was fairly chatty but I didn't think my personality was shining across anyone else. There was some really bubbly girls with funky hair, who looked really cool so I didn't really think it. But them when you start to get down to the final ten and then final three you start to get really nervous and you really want it because it became real. It was amazing to get through in the end.
Had you ever thought about modelling before?
I used to do the odd bit of promotional work when I was younger which involved some brands taking photos of you but I didn't think about taking it any further because I went into a different career and just carried on with that but I enjoyed doing it when I was younger.
What was it like working with Coleen?
It was really good actually. She was really down to earth and she just felt like one of the other girls. She's not at all a diva, she's really friendly and if ever we were off camera she'd still chat to us. She was really funny, I even heard her on the phone to Wayne a few times asking what was for dinner and stuff like that! She's completely normal! She's completely right for that programme as well.
When you went for the casting did you feel like the real models were any different to you three or did you think you and the other two girls had just as good a shot?
Well it was weird because I looked around and some of the models I recognised from campaigns. There was one particular girl who I've seen around on a lot of adverts and she's been modelling for about ten years and there's one that's just done the Head and Shoulders advert so I recognised her. The only thing that really stood out for me was that they were very tall and very skinny but that was probably because we weren't, so to speak, because we were Coleen's real women. We all swapped our books to have a look and they were very complimentary about ours. It was quite a nice environment, there wasn't too much standoffishness.
Has winning the competition changed you?
I wouldn't say it's changed me, it's made me feel more optimistic about the future and opportunities and it's certainly brought out a bit more confidence in how I feel about myself. Doing the programme, getting our photos taken, we had the shoot down at Whitstable, we had some lovely beach shots and having those to remember the whole experience by is nice and obviously I've just done the shoot for KitKat Senses, I did that last week, so I'm waiting for that image to come through.
Have you not seen it yet?
I haven't no. I've seen it on screen, they're gonna choose one as we took so many. There's possibly about 400 pictures so they've got to choose the final one and then they're gonna let me know.
Kelly in the KitKat advert
What do you think makes you more 'real' than other models in the industry?
I think I've got curves which other models don't. I'm a size 10, I'm quite slim but I've got curves and I've got hips. I think normal models are just very straight up and down and the skinnier the better, that's the way it comes across and I think it's just really testing the industry to have someone who's shorter and curvier going for the same sort of jobs, but I think when you see the picture it won't actually make any difference.
Tagged in Coleen Rooney Coleen Nolan