Press release -

Falkirk girl crowned Spectacle Wearer of the Year 2011 at Specsavers' charity modelling competition

CATWALK sensation Lucie Stevenson from Falkirk is eyeing up a glittering modelling career after scooping first place at last night’s 15th annual celeb-studded Spectacle Wearer of the Year Awards final.  

Lucie, aged 18, was awarded first place at the final of the annual modelling competition, which was staged at London’s iconic Battersea Power Station to celebrate Anti-Bullying Week (14-18 November 2011). Guests included event host and style guru Gok Wan, actress and Strictly Come Dancing star Kara Tointon and Max George of The Wanted.

The Wanted’s Max George clinched the title of Celebrity Spectacle Wearer of the Year, while Perri Kiely of street dance group Diversity was named Best Newcomer. Strictly Come Dancing’s Nancy Dell’Olio was crowned Glamorous Glasses Wearer of 2011.    

The Spectacle Wearer of the Year competition was launched by Kara Tointon in May this year. Lucie beat off stiff competition from nearly 5,000 hopefuls to win one of 10 places, representing Scotland.

Lucie won a year’s modelling contract with top London agency MOT Models plus a two week premier, all-inclusive holiday for two in Barbados or St Lucia courtesy of Almond Resorts and Virgin Holidays, with £250 worth of spending money.

She also bagged a makeover with TV celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton, a year’s supply of skincare products from Simple, a £150 Specsavers eye test and glasses voucher and the coveted Spectacle Wearer of the Year 2011 trophy.        

Specsavers Opticians co-founder and patron of Kidscape, Dame Mary Perkins, says: ‘This year’s event was really special, showcasing possibly the highest standard of contestants we’ve ever seen. To have so many young people looking stunning in their glasses is fantastic, and a great way to celebrate Anti-Bullying Week, but Lucie really stole the show. The fact that we were able to raise £10,000 for our competition charity partner Kidscape makes it all the more worthwhile.’  

Helen Illes, founder of MOT Models says: ‘After more than 25 years in the fashion industry you know the sort of things you’re looking for in a new model. The standard of contestants tonight was really high and it was a tough decision but Lucie really shone on the catwalk. We look forward to working with her over the coming year.’

A luxury raffle on the night in aid of children’s anti-bullying charity Kidscape, helped to raise a grand total of £10,000. This included a Specsavers donation of £1 for every eligible competition entry, plus ticket sales from the awards ceremony.

Topics

  • Health, Health Care, Pharmaceuticals

Categories

  • designer glasses
  • eyecare
  • glasses
  • opticians
  • modelling
  • gok wan

Regions

  • England

Specsavers was founded by Doug and Dame Mary Perkins in 1984 and is now the largest privately owned opticians in the world. The couple still run the company, along with their three children. Their son John is joint managing director.


Specsavers has almost 1,600 stores throughout the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Spain, Australia and New Zealand.
Annual turnover for the Specsavers Group was £1.36 billion for 2009/10 and is forecast to reach £1.55 billion in 2010/11. Specsavers optical stores and hearing centres are owned and run by joint venture or franchise partners. Together, they offer both optical and hearing services under one roof.
Specsavers employs more than 26,000 staff.


Specsavers was voted Britain’s most trusted brand of opticians for the tenth year running by the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands survey 2010. More than one in three people who wear glasses in the UK buy them from Specsavers * – 9,700,000 glasses were exported from the warehouse to stores in 2009.


Specsavers was ranked No 1 for both eye tests and glasses in the UK *. It is the largest retail provider of home delivery contact lenses in Europe and one of the top two retail suppliers of continuous wear lenses in the world.

Specsavers is now the largest retail dispenser of digital hearing aids in the UK and offers a hearing service from more than 400 locations. Specsavers supports numerous optical and hearing charities, including Guide Dogs and Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. During its three-year support for Diabetes UK it raised more than £250,000 to fund various projects.


Since 2003 more than a quarter of a million glasses have been collected and recycled by Specsavers stores for Vision Aid Overseas, for use in developing countries. Specsavers has raised over £370,000 for the charity since 2006, with almost £245,000 going towards its work in Zambia.