Britain's Next Top Model
Britain’s Next Top Model has ensnared many a viewer over the past few weeks, but last night saw Mecia Simone Simson crowned the winner of series five after fighting off Jade McSorley during Buenos Aires for the Fashion Week, and Sophie Sumner in
the final catwalk showdown back in the UK.
I caught up with the new queen of modelling, and the newly engaged Mecia for a chat…
Hello Mecia! Congratulations on being the winner of this year’s show, how does it feel?
It feels amazing! Its really exciting because I know there’s going to be a lot of exciting stuff coming up and I just can’t wait to get going with it all.
Remind us what you’ve won…
I won the chance to be on the cover of Company magazine and a six-page spread inside, as well as a contract with models One and I will be the face of Max Factor as well which I’m waiting to shoot… its just going to be really exciting.
So what does your diary look like over the next couple of months?
Well I’m hoping that I’m going to be really busy! I’m going into a meeting with models One tomorrow and then I’m going to sort out when I’m going to get my press shots that I can take with me to the castings and then I’ll get on with it then.
How did the other girls react when you were announced as the winner?
Well because they were all at the final to watch they all came up and congratulated me and they all seemed generally happy for me. Obviously they all wanted to win so they were sad not to see themselves up there, but they all congratulated me so it was all good.
Did you think you could win it from the beginning?
I honestly did not think I could win because when we got there was 20 other girls then and I just looked round at them and thought; “oh my God, I have no chance!” I just thought I’d be home within the next four days. Every week I thought I was going home, even if I got good comments.
So winning was such a shock too because Sophie was doing really well and I was expecting to see her picture on the screen so I was looking at the screen thinking; “it’s going to be Sophie, it’s going to be Sophie…” that’s why it was such a huge shock.
Do you think you have what it takes to take on the likes of Kate Moss and Gisele now?
Well I’m just starting out and I’m new to all this so I’m going to try my best and the show has made me a lot more thick skinned. I know it’s not going to be an easy walk in the park but I think I have what it takes and I’m going to go for it.
Do you think you’ve proven now that you don’t have to be blonde and flirty to be a top model?
Yes! Haha, I think I have! Usually the top models are really tall and really slim with blonde hair and blue eyes and I’m not and I think I’ve shown a lot of girls that you don’t have to fit into that stereotype to win and be successful.
How did you get into modelling in the first place then?
Well… my mum has a hair salon so I got into fashion that way and have grown up with it from a young age and it kind of made me want to be a model.
We also saw you got engaged during the show, how was that? I was crying!
Aww, it was amazing, it was such a shock because Sophie had the video message because she’d won the challenge so I was gutted that she got to see her family and I didn’t, but the next minute Andrew popped up on the screen so I was like; “Oh my God.!”
He looked extra nervous and I was wondering why he looked so nervous, I thought maybe it was because he was filming himself, but when I saw the ring I couldn’t believe it! I was so happy because I really needed that boost and it pushed me through to the end of the competition.
Are you prepared to juggle your private life and your career in the public eye?
Yes, I think I’m ready I’ve been with Andrew for five year’s and we’re strong as ever anyway and this is something I’ve wanted to do for such a long time and he’s really supportive and he’s moving up to London with me next week… I’m strong, so I think I’ll manage it.
And would you ever choose your career over your family?
No I wouldn’t because I don’t think you can ditch your family. I’d always juggle it, I don’t see why I’d have to choose really.
Good answer, so have you made any wedding plans now?
No I actually haven’t because it came at such a difficult time so what I’m going to do is to try and get sorted in my career and everything and then we’re going to put back as much money as we can and then as soon as we have the money we’re going to set a date, maybe in a year or something…
In the past few months you’ve gotten engaged and won the show, what else could possibly make your life better?
I know! My dream would be to model for Roberto Cavalli and Victoria’s Secret, that would so top it off because I love Roberto Cavalli’s dresses and I love the lingerie and the catwalk shows that Victoria’s Secret put on, they’re amazing.
Finally, it’s been a pleasure to watch you, but before you go, tell me about your long term ambitions…
Well I’m hoping to get a life-long modelling career out of the show, and I’d also love to be known and have the success of Kate Moss, that would be amazing. She’s in her thirties now and she’s still doing so well as a model with her own clothing range and I’d love to have an inch of her success.
Well Mecia, we’re sure you’ll go very far, it’s been a pleasure talking to you and best of luck with everything in the future,
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison
Britain’s Next Top Model has ensnared many a viewer over the past few weeks, but last night saw Mecia Simone Simson crowned the winner of series five after fighting off Jade McSorley during Buenos Aires for the Fashion Week, and Sophie Sumner in
the final catwalk showdown back in the UK.
I caught up with the new queen of modelling, and the newly engaged Mecia for a chat…
Hello Mecia! Congratulations on being the winner of this year’s show, how does it feel?
It feels amazing! Its really exciting because I know there’s going to be a lot of exciting stuff coming up and I just can’t wait to get going with it all.
Remind us what you’ve won…
I won the chance to be on the cover of Company magazine and a six-page spread inside, as well as a contract with models One and I will be the face of Max Factor as well which I’m waiting to shoot… its just going to be really exciting.
So what does your diary look like over the next couple of months?
Well I’m hoping that I’m going to be really busy! I’m going into a meeting with models One tomorrow and then I’m going to sort out when I’m going to get my press shots that I can take with me to the castings and then I’ll get on with it then.
How did the other girls react when you were announced as the winner?
Well because they were all at the final to watch they all came up and congratulated me and they all seemed generally happy for me. Obviously they all wanted to win so they were sad not to see themselves up there, but they all congratulated me so it was all good.
Did you think you could win it from the beginning?
I honestly did not think I could win because when we got there was 20 other girls then and I just looked round at them and thought; “oh my God, I have no chance!” I just thought I’d be home within the next four days. Every week I thought I was going home, even if I got good comments.
So winning was such a shock too because Sophie was doing really well and I was expecting to see her picture on the screen so I was looking at the screen thinking; “it’s going to be Sophie, it’s going to be Sophie…” that’s why it was such a huge shock.
Do you think you have what it takes to take on the likes of Kate Moss and Gisele now?
Well I’m just starting out and I’m new to all this so I’m going to try my best and the show has made me a lot more thick skinned. I know it’s not going to be an easy walk in the park but I think I have what it takes and I’m going to go for it.
Do you think you’ve proven now that you don’t have to be blonde and flirty to be a top model?
Yes! Haha, I think I have! Usually the top models are really tall and really slim with blonde hair and blue eyes and I’m not and I think I’ve shown a lot of girls that you don’t have to fit into that stereotype to win and be successful.
How did you get into modelling in the first place then?
Well… my mum has a hair salon so I got into fashion that way and have grown up with it from a young age and it kind of made me want to be a model.
We also saw you got engaged during the show, how was that? I was crying!
Aww, it was amazing, it was such a shock because Sophie had the video message because she’d won the challenge so I was gutted that she got to see her family and I didn’t, but the next minute Andrew popped up on the screen so I was like; “Oh my God.!”
He looked extra nervous and I was wondering why he looked so nervous, I thought maybe it was because he was filming himself, but when I saw the ring I couldn’t believe it! I was so happy because I really needed that boost and it pushed me through to the end of the competition.
Are you prepared to juggle your private life and your career in the public eye?
Yes, I think I’m ready I’ve been with Andrew for five year’s and we’re strong as ever anyway and this is something I’ve wanted to do for such a long time and he’s really supportive and he’s moving up to London with me next week… I’m strong, so I think I’ll manage it.