Face of the Future 2010

The search for Face of Future 2010 has almost reached its climax as we reveal the line-up of finalists bidding for the title.

After a search that reached the far corners of Shropshire and Mid Wales, more than 100 entries flooded in from people hoping to clinch the title.

The judging was an extremely difficult task for the panel: Shropshire Star women's editor Tracey O'Sullivan, Face of the Future 2009 Jodie Lee Jones, and Jeremy Merckel and Leah Roberts from Telford Shopping Centre, which struggled to whittle down the entries to five male and five female finalists.

Eventually the boys were chosen both from the pictures they submitted and their accompanying personal statement.

But the standard of entry from the girls was particularly high and eventually five finalists were chosen along with two reserves.

All 12 young people were invited to our special evening wear photoshoot at Haughton Hall Hotel, Shifnal.

The judges were again so impressed that it was decided that our two reserves would join the line-up of official finalists, making 12 in total.

The winners will be revealed on New Year's Day and will each win a £150 voucher to spend at Telford Shopping Centre. They will also open Telford Wedding Exhibition next month and perform a series of personal appearance over the next year at Telford Shopping Centre.

The current Face of the Future Jodie Lee Jones said she had thoroughly enjoyed her time in the role and wished all the best to the winners of the search to find her successor.

"It is a great opportunity and I would advise whoever takes over to just make the most of their year and enjoy it," Jodie said.

Our female winner will be joined by the first male winner after the boys were invited to compete in theÊ competition for the first time this year.

Now read on to find out more about each of our finalists and what they thought of their special Face of the Future makeover.

Samantha Williams

From: Trench

Age: 24

Being a great role model is the aim for Sam Williams should she be named the Face of the Future 2010.

"I would love to be given the opportunity to be the new Face of the Future and replace Jodie," said Sam.

"I work as a team leader for Capgemini in Telford and I'm a professional, yet fun person. My personality is outgoing and bubbly, and I love to have a laugh.

"I have been told that I have got an infectious personality and I'm highly trustworthy.

"Over this past year I have watched Jodie do a great job as the Face of the Future. She is a great role model and mother.

'Jodie has been a great inspiration to me and others. If I was the Face of the Future, it would be an honour to replace her.

"Jodie has inspired me more than any celeb, because she was just a normal person who achieved something really impressive. I hope I can achieve the same.

"It's great when people see someone do something and then aim to bring something positive to their own lives.

"I would like to show other girls that it is worth being proud of the community you live in and shouting it from the rooftops, and being the type of person who people would want to see as the Face of the Future.

"Although I have no modelling experience, I really want to give it a try, even more so after the photoshoot which was such a good experience.

"My finished look was fabulous and the dress very flattering and I felt very confident in it."

Sam wears: black full-length dress from House of Fraser, £125, and a black fur shrug, £70, from Coast at House of Fraser.

Hair: creating lots of romantic curls that fall delicately over the shoulders help complete a look which was dramatic and full of winter glamour.

Make-up: For Sam we went for a very dark, dramatic, metallic look, which is very in for new year parties. It was dark and sultry around the eyes with less colour on the lips.

Jamie Thomas and Rachel Steer

Ages: Jamie, 23; Rachel 20

From: Rachel is from Albrighton and Jamie from Hilton near Bridgnorth

Face of the Future's first couple were selected as finalists after Jamie Thomas nominated both himself and his girlfriend Rachel to be in with a chance of winning the competition.

"I had no modelling experience, but when I read about the Face of the Future search I thought it would be interesting to volunteer myself," said Jamie, a freelance illustrator who also works part-time at the Foaming Jug pub near Albrighton.

But in his application Jamie proved himself a true gentleman with more flowing praise of a person he thought was an even more deserving candidate for the title - Rachel.

"She would make a superb addition to the growing list of Face of the Future winners," he said.

"She has fantastic potential and a great passion for fashion with creative style and flair.

"And Rachel fully believes that women should feel comfortable with what they wear and have the confidence to be their own individual, not feeling that the need to conform to any labels or social norms.

"She has a brilliant and bright personality, and a proactive nature to match, which really shows in her job as an air hostess for Monarch Airlines. She also holds a part-time job at Shifnal Park House Hotel and is an extremely hard worker.

"Although balancing two jobs each we still find opportunities to spend time together.

"We have shared numerous great memories together, and I couldn't think of anyone I would rather share my time with.

"Rachel is a true natural beauty who possesses great charm and is a treat to be in the company of."

And modestly he added: "And I'm not too bad myself."

Rachel wears: pink strapless dress from Coast at House of Fraser, £125

Hair: At London Fashion Week we saw a lot of hair that was influenced by rock icons. This look is effortlessly cool with a nod to emerging fashion. Wearing either your natural curls or creating curly hair using straightening irons or heated rollers simply plait away the front section to become a party fashionista.

Make-up: Cherie mixed a pink and purple eyeshadow to create the perfect compliment to Rachel's dress, and used a more natural tone of lipstick to prevent it overpowering the look.

"Use your hand as a palette as the warmth will make it easier to blend, colours," advised Cherie.

Jamie wears: Ted Baker suit, £350, Ted Baker shirt ,£55, and Ted Baker tie, £20, from House of Fraser

Hair: Even shorter hairstyles can have lots of texture and dimension, it's just about having the right cut! Having a good haircut is essential. It's important that the hairdresser understands the needs of the modern man, a man who takes more pride in haircare and skin care.

Having the right haircut shouldn't mean hours of styling. Jamie's short textured haircut will take about five minutes to style in the morning. Lots of my male (and female) clients communicate what they would like when they visit me by bringing a photo of a hairstyle. This is a great platform to start a consultation with your stylist. You know what they say: a picture is worth a thousand words.

Name: Laura Meakin

From: Aqueduct, Telford

Age: 27

Reaching the finals of Face of the Future 2010 proved a real boost for Laura after a tough year that saw the single mother undergo heart surgery.

Laura said that even if she didn't win the title it was just fabulous to have some me-time and a day of pampering.

Laura, mum to five-year-old Archie and a law student at university, has struggled with her health for most of her life with doctors blaming a variety of reasons, including asthma.

But in November last year she was rushed to hospital with a suspected heart attack.

"My heart rate kept going up, even just sat watching television," she said.

"After the tests, the doctors concluded in February that it was a problem with the electrics in my heart so laser surgery would be carried out in May. It was quite a shock, but I was glad that they were finally doing something about it. The surgery itself was a complete success.

"I feel like a new person, and that I can do a lot more now than I could before. It was a worry all the time leading up to the surgery and during it because of Archie, and it was important that he knew that his mummy would be fine."

"The photoshoot was brilliant. The dress choice was perfect and the photo scene settings were spot on. Everyone looked amazing."

"I said when I got back home that it was just nice to have a 'me' day and get pampered. Just that day alone gave me such a boost after the year I've had. Even if I don't win, it will be a really good ending to what has been such a bad year."

Laura wears: an emerald green dress from Debut from Debenhams, £100

Hair: Inspired by this beautiful dress, we wanted to share the same mood of extravagance.

A classic look with a 2010 twist. Creating this look couldn't be easier. Plait away the front section of the hair and tightly pull the rest of your hair into a side ponytail. Curl this hair and backcomb through to create a more daring, distressed look that is bang on trend.

Make-up: Green is very much a colour for the season for make-up, and has been seen a lot on the catwalk. I co-ordinated bright emerald green shimmering eyeshadow, which focused the look on the eye area but also acted as a touch of drama to add to the dress.

Name: Nicola Parsons

From: Madeley, Telford

Age: 23

Born in Germany, Nicola moved to the Midlands when she was just two years old and to Telford in 1996.

She is a great fan of dance and studied ballroom at the John Knight Dance Studio in Wednesbury. Nicola has numerous rosettes and medals from competitions and is planning to renew her interest in her hobby in the new year.

"My family has grown tremendously over the past five to six years as my parents became foster carers and adoptive parents. Family is very important to me.

"My brother Lee has recently become a qualified sailor in the navy and Nathan, my other brother, is continuing to work his way up from seniors to experts in motocross sport. We are all very close.

"I now live just around the corner from my parents with my boyfriend as we set up home together a year ago.

"I decided to enter this competition as I feel I have a lot to offer.

"Not only am I a bubbly outgoing person but I have also been told that I'm extremely photogenic and confident with a good sense of style. I am very much a people person who enjoys socialising and meeting new people."

Nicola said she was very impressed with the makeover team at the photoshoot.

"I loved every minute of it. The dress was simply fabulous and totally suited my figure as it flattered my womanly curves. I find it very difficult to find dresses that fit but this one was perfect, almost as if it had been made just for me."

Nicola wears: vivid pink Ben de Lisi strapless dress from Debenhams, £120.

Hair: Bobs are certainly uber-trendy right now and it's hard to walk down the high street without seeing a dozen variations of this haircut. But it can be versatile (think Danii Minogue).

This jaw-length bob is one of my favourite bobs and I think it flatters Nicola's petite features. To get this look, ask that it be slightly shorter in the back with very subtle layering throughout. Make sure your stylist can offer you different options for styling your haircut for party nights. If you've got to party in a hurry take inspiration from your surroundings - dare to be different.

In Nicola's hair we have accessorised with a butterfly from our Christmas tree - little effort for maximum impact.

Make-up: The colours used on Nicola's eyes were more laid-back pinks while Cherie used a vibrant colour for her lips to make the most of this daring party look. With the butterfly accessory it was important to dare to dazzle.

Name: Jennifer Hosty

From: Longden, Shrewsbury

Age: 17

Seventeen-year-old Jenny is determined to improve the image of today's youth and hopes a year as Shropshire's Face of the Future could help her do just that.

"I feel I would be a good candidate for the Face of the Future because I am open, friendly and enthusiastic," said Jenny.

"Although I am young, I feel I have achieved a lot. I am currently taking A-levels in biology, chemistry and maths and hope to continue to university to study medicine. I have always played an active role in the local community, for example, fundraising with Shrewsbury Cathedral, and hope to help dispel the bad reputation that many people have of today's youths.

"I think this is a fantastic opportunity and one I would love to be a part of. I take pride in how I present myself and think every woman needs an outfit to feel special in. I think beauty is not about how you look, but about how you feel about yourself. If you are happy and confident with yourself, I believe it really shows on the outside."

Jenny said she thoroughly enjoyed being a finalist at the photoshoot and was amazed by her look.

"It's very different but great fun and I think it is wonderful to be able to have a splash of colour at this time of the year to make you feel good," she said.

Jenny wears: short teal dress with subtle puffball hem from Coast at House of Fraser, £150. Perfect for that youthful sense of fun.

Hair: This look is a clear representation of youth. The key to creating this style is a non-overtly perfect finish that requires a combination of texture and loose pinning. Wearing the fringe smooth creates a strong contrast to the rest of the hair that polishes the final look. A great party hairdo that will have friends green with envy.

Make-up: Cherie co-ordinated the colour using an iridescence eyeshadow with a sheen to it. This drew attention to Jenny's striking blue eyes. Cherie is a firm fan of co-ordinating the colours of an outfit and make-up without worrying about experimenting. "If in doubt go for a smoky charcoal look, it's generic and will go with almost anything," she says.

Name: Lauren Bason

From: Shifnal

Age: 18

A sports fan, Lauren has been a member of a number of groups across Shropshire and has competed at national level as a swimmer.

Born in Shropshire, Lauren has enjoyed travelling to many place in Britain while competing in various sports.

"I am very much a people person and love to meet new people and experience new things," said Lauren.

"I was recently chosen to be a presentation hostess for the biggest elite bike race in Britain - the Tour of Britain 2009.

"I travelled around Britain with the tour team for eight days, staying in places that I had never been before.

"This experience was truly amazing, I met so many lovely people and experienced so many new things. The whole of the tour was also televised on ITV 4.

"At the moment I attend college on a Saturday where I am studying to be a personal trainer. I have also just qualified as a full swimming teacher, which I really enjoy.

"However, I would love to further this and work with disabled children.

"I have also always had a keen passion to be a model. The Tour Of Britain gave me a good insight into my modelling work, which is something I would love to pursue. This is another reason why I would love to be the new Face of the Future.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the photoshoot and meeting all the finalists.

"I was amazed at how different I looked after the makeover and I completely adored my dress.

"To be named Face of The Future 2010 would be such a privilege and I know it would really open up so many more opportunities to me."

Lauren wears: Pearce Fionda one-shoulder red dress from Debenhams, £130.

Hair: This hairstyle shows just how diverse a good haircut can be. If you are constantly updating your wardrobe with the must-have trends, it's important to be able to update your tresses at the same rate.

We started by changing the parting to create more of a sweeping feminine fringe. We then worked with heated rollers through the rest of the head to create a look that can be only described as soft, natural, and with plenty of body that falls into place on its own.

It is the kind of hairstyle you could wear to any occasion or outing.

Make-up: Smoky dark dramatic eyes. If you have smaller eyes this look can be used to accentuate them and make them bigger.

Lauren already had beautiful doe-like eyes but this smoky take on current metallic trends gives that more mature look and hints to an elegant bygone era.

Name: Kate Bench

From: Wellington

Age: 19

Bubbly Kate is a firm follower of fashion and very hopeful she will be chosen to represent Shropshire and Telford Shopping Centre.

"I love meeting people and love my clothes," said Kate, who works at a recruitment centre temporarily after finishing her studies at Telford's New College.

"I am always interested in the latest styles. I feel that Telford and Shropshire need to be promoted for fashion as people within the county seem to be developing their interest in different styles.

"Catwalk fashion is amazing, but high-street fashion is accessible for anybody and people can look good no matter what age or shape they are as long as they know what looks good on them, and how to put it together.

"I feel that I have the right look and personality to promote fashion throughout Shropshire and get more people interested and excited about how they dress.

"I really enjoyed the shoot and thought that the whole team did an amazing job - everybody looked fantastic.

"It was a great experience. All the other finalists were great and we had a good laugh. I liked my look as it was a bit different to my usual, but it still put across my individuality - as I feel everybody else's look did.

"I loved the fact that it was a classic look with a modern edge."

Kate wears: a purple strapless dress by Coast at House of Fraser, £135, with matching handbag, £40, and long-length necklace worn loosely to accessorise.

Hair: As the '80s revival continues, hairstyles will also embrace this Dynasty era. Volume is soft and feminine using critical backcombing to create airy textures. Wearing your hair bigger and off your face will create a sophisticated twist on the 80s revival, advises Josh.

Make-Up: Cherie used a Chanel range of eyeshadows. "It has a silk-like quality to it which makes it easier to blend because it is non-chalky," she said.

"The key to a good make-up is blending to make it look as natural as possible while also enhancing features, such as Kate's strong colouring."

Name: Nat Blackbourn

From: Shrewsbury

Age: 16

Nat, a student at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, has long held ambitions to make it in the modelling world and is hopeful that the Face of the Future title could help him to do just that.

At the moment he is concentrating on his studies but felt the competition was the ideal way to get a taste of what it would be like to take part in modelling and promotional work.

And the chance to get dressed up was almost too much of a temptation to resist - even though he ended up teaming his dinner-jacket with trainers on the day itself.

Well it's a look that's worked for Sir Paul McCartney so why not for Nat.

"I really enjoyed the day and finding out what it's like to work on a busy shoot," said Nat.

"I would like to get into modelling and there are not that many opportunities in Shropshire to see what it could be like.

"I do look after myself and I think it's important for your self-confidence to have a good self-image. The photoshoot was great for that and it was fun talking to other people about what they wanted to do.

"I think winning Face of the Future would be a great opportunity for me."

Nat wears: Ventuno dress suit, £149, Ventuno shirt, £25, both from Moss Bros.

Hair: Inspired by the '50s comeback in men's hair, this haircut is shorter at the neck and around the ears. The top has been left longer for a more versatile look that can be worn sleek or more textured.

Name: Danny Morris

From: Trench, Telford

Age: 26

Hard-working Danny has been toiling away for 80 hours a week recently in a bid to fund his love of travelling.

But with more than a dozen friends tying the knot this year he is hoping to stay in Britain for all the festivities before heading off around the word and indulging his passion for globe-trotting.

Danny has set himself a savings target figure and is well on target to reaching it. "I've been looking at getting into modelling for a while but have never really had the chance with work commitments taking up most of my time," he said.

"I love travelling and it has taken up a lot of my time in the past. Then Face of the Future came along and I thought it was an ideal opportunity to see how I would get on if I gave modelling a go.

"I would love to win and to enjoy the experience of representing Shropshire and Telford Shopping Centre for a year. I'm a hard-working bloke and would love the chance to meet new people and help with promotions around the town.

"I like to be the best at whatever I am taking part in, whether it's work or outside activities. I've lived in Telford all my life and am very proud of where I'm from.

"I see this as an exciting chance to do something I've always wanted to do, and people always say I should be a model.

"The photoshoot was good fun and a taste of what might be."

Danny wears: Ventuno suit, £149, Blazer shirt, £25, and tie, £20, all from Moss Bros.

Name: Chris Bailey

From: Newport

Age: 26

Chris is determined to make his daughter proud in all that he does.

Currently working at Harper Adams University College, Chris entered the search for the Face of the Future 2010 because he wants to show four-year-old Maddison that it's always worth trying to do something positive with your life.

"I am trying to do the best for my gorgeous little girl and I know she would love to see her daddy's picture in the paper," said Chris.

"I am hard-working and friendly as well as down-to-earth.

"I would make the very most of this opportunity and put in 110 per cent to show that I appreciate the chance to do something different with my life.

"I enjoy working at Harper Adams but I am always striving for better things and would dearly love to be the first male Face of the Future.

"The photoshoot was really interesting and I enjoyed getting dressed up. I thought the suit was a particularly good look for me."

Chris wears: Lambretta suit, £229, Lambretta shirt, £35, and a Lambretta tie, £25, all from House of Fraser.

Name: Anthony Fletcher Aleixos

From: Ludlow

Age: 31

Anthony has lived in different parts of Shropshire since he was 18 months old including Telford, Bridgnorth and Ludlow, and he has nothing but praise for the county.

"It is a great place to live and I am very fortunate," said Anthony.

"I have had a chance to experience the different parts of this county, including town and country living, and I think it has so much to offer residents.

I would think of it as a privilege to represent any part of Shropshire, particularly Telford which has developed into a thriving multi-cultural town."

Anthony said he enjoyed the photoshoot, which had given him the chance to meet and chat to the other finalists. "It has been really fun to be a part of all this," he added.

"They all seem like a great bunch of people.

"To be The Face of the Future would mean a lot to me.

"However, I think that everyone who was there on the day would do really well in the role. It is just great to have got this far."

Anthony wears: Dress suit from Debenhams, £165, shirt, £25, and bow tie with cummerbund, £22.

Hair: Another example of how a short, textured haircut that takes seconds to style can keep you at the top of the trend tables. This time working with a slightly shorter fringe that emphasises Anthony's masculine features, creating more of a square jaw line.

Credits

Location: Our pictures of the Face of the Future finalists were taken at Haughton Hall in Shifnal, one of the county's leading venues for special occasions and weddings.

Situated in the quiet beauty of rural Shropshire, the hall, dating from 1718, has been decorated in a timeless style and situated in 35 acres of gardens, woodland and a lake.

The stunning architecture and picturesque grounds are given a boost with some fabulous rooms with period features, including the impressive and romantic Telford Suite. It also features a leisure club.

For more information (01952) 468300 or www.haughtonhall.com

Hair: a team from Dreams Hairdressing & Beauty in Madeley led by Josh Humphries added a touch of magic creating a series of styles using a mixture of drama, elegance and fun. This professional and motivated team provides a varied service from the latest trends and techniques through to more classic looks. Josh has given his tips on how to achieve the looks and turn heads at this year's New Year's Eve parties throughout the supplement. Dreams Hairdressing & Beauty: 01952 582525.

Make-up: make-up artist Cherie Chilton, based at Dreams, completed the party looks using inspiration from the outfits chosen for our finalists, and this season's colour palette from the leading high-fashion catwalks. She has also given her tips throughout this Face of the Future special supplement on the looks that will be hot for 2010.

Styling: Shropshire Star women's editor Tracey O'Sullivan and Telford Shopping Centre's Leah Roberts using fashion from House of Fraser, Debenhams and Moss Bros.

Photographer: Russell Davies.