As it was Australia Day last week – instead of celebrating in traditional Aussie fashion, we thought it would be the perfect time to get in touch with Star in a Bra model search winner Julia McLean. With only a few short weeks to go before the launch of Curvy Kate’s Star in a Bra competition, (Blimey, is it that time again already!?) We were eager to catch up with the brand’s latest victor Julia McLean who triumphed in the Australian ‘SIAB’.
Hi Julia, and congratulations again on winning Australian Star in a Bra! Tell us about the shoot – we want to hear ALL about it!
Julia: The shoot was unbelievable! From start to finish everything went crazy and non-stop. I enjoyed so many parts of the it, like getting my hair and makeup done so beautifully and getting a sneak peek at the new range! Two things really stuck out for me that made the days unforgettable. Firstly, getting the chance to model alongside Curvy Kate girls Laura, Lauren and Lizzie – I could not have asked for a more lovely group of girls! I’m not going to lie, it was a bit intimidating at first standing between them on day one (they seemed like seasoned professionals!!) but those apprehensions were quickly lost as the girls were so friendly and eager to help me learn the ‘tricks of the trade’. And secondly, working with our photographer Alison. I learnt so much from her and really appreciated how she was both incredibly supportive and how she also gave great feedback to help us keep bettering our photos. On top of everything I’ve mentioned, I also really enjoyed meeting Steve, the owner of Curvy Kate, as well as Hannah and Seema who are also part of the Curvy Kate team and who helped me so much during the photoshoot.
How did you feel before and after?
Julia: Before the shoot I was a teenie bit nervous. I was the first of the models to arrive at the location, so that meant I was first up for hair, then make up, and then the first in front of the camera! At times I felt a bit overwhelmed, but everyone around me was so positive and reassuring, I really had nothing to be worried about. After the shoot I felt so many emotions! I was happy to have met and gotten to know so many lovely people, and at the end of the final day it felt like a massive team achievement – everyone having come together to achieve the huge task of shooting an entire catalogue. But also at the end of the 2 day shoot I was so incredibly tired and a bit sad that it was all over. I wanted to do it all over again!
Very exciting indeed! What else did you get up to in London?
Julia: I was very lucky because while I was in London my dad was also traveling through the UK for work, so we were able to do some sight seeing together. We saw all the landmark sights like Big Ben, Westminster, St. Pauls and the Tower of London, and also got to spend a little bit of time wandering through the city at our own pace. I also had a fair few occasions where I left my dad in nice coffee shops and snuck off to Oxford St to do some serious shopping!
Which Curvy Kate set/styles are you looking forward to?
Julia: Even though I am excited about the entire AW12 range, I am especially looking forward to the new Gia bra. I am a sucker for a beautiful non-padded/lace bra, and this new style just fitted so well and looked really refined and classy! And I loved the colours it comes in – the Blush would serve as a gorgeous everyday bra, and the red is such a stunning statement colour.
Are you excited to see the catalogue come out?
Julia: I was both excited and nervous for the catalogue to come out, but now that it has just recently been published I feel so proud of myself! It’s quite surreal seeing myself in the pages. All the photos came up so well – it’s a real credit to the fantastic hair and make up artists, our brilliant photographer and all of the intricate planning that the team at Curvy Kate had undergone beforehand.
Other than (of course!) the lovely lingerie, what were the best aspects of the shoot?
Julia:Having never partaken in a photo shoot of this magnitude, I absolutely adored the hair and makeup process. It was amazing – like nothing I have ever experienced before! The makeup was a really gorgeous “60s” theme, with REALLY BIG eyes. False lashes and oodles of liquid eyeliner. It rocked my world! And the hair was a real work of art too. Half-wigs and hair pieces everywhere!
And the worst?
Julia: Smiling so much your face begins to hurt! Thank god all of the girls had a great sense of humor. They kept me smiling when I thought that my jaw was going to drop off!
Would you want to do it again?
Julia: I would do another Curvy Kate shoot in a heartbeat. It was such an unbelievable experience and I learned so much more than I ever imagined I would. It still feels so crazy that I was the lucky one to have won this phenomenal opportunity! After the incredible experience I had in London, I would certainly jump at the chance to do it all over again.
What’s next for you?
Julia: Now that I’m back in Australia, things have been getting back to normal and I’ve just been enjoying the summer holidays. Part of the prize for winning Star in a Bra also is a one year modelling contract with Bella Model Management, so in the new year I am looking forward to meeting with them. I’m not entirely sure what lies ahead for me this year, but I know that I’ll just be heading into it with an open mind, ready to try even more new things.
What would you say to someone who’s a bit nervous about entering Star in a Bra in February?
Julia: If you’re a bit nervous about entering, I’d say you’ve got nothing to worry about because you’re definitely in the majority! What helped me out when I was a bit nervous about entering was going back and looking through previous SIAB competitions. It was really encouraging to see how so many different women had been a part of the competitions; women of all shapes, sizes, ages and backgrounds. But what struck me was that every applicant seemed to get so much out of entering – whether it be building self esteem and confidence, or learning to take a risk and try something new! What you get out of entering a competition like this far outweighs any nerves or apprehension that may have been held beforehand. So if you’re sitting on the fence, go for it! You never know what you’re capable of if you don’t give it a try!
Will you be following in Julia’s footsteps and enter the Curvy Kate Star in a Bra competition? SIAB 2012 opens 23rd February – just over two weeks!
