By Nuala McAloon
IT IS GOING to be one busy year for Ballinamallard's former Miss Northern Ireland Judith Wilson who is not only preparing to marry her fiance Gareth Grey in November but is also focusing her energy on a new modelling school in a bid to unearth fresh talent for the industry here.
Along with being a bridesmaid for her sister Eloise in April, Judith, who is still on the roll books for Alison Campbell modelling agency and who currently works as a sub music teacher, knows that the months ahead are going to be hectic to say the least.
But, she says she'd rather be busy and, having just launched her modelling school in Enniskillen - the first of its kind in the west of Ulster - she is looking forward to what lies ahead.
"The idea for the school came about from people asking me questions about how do you learn to walk on the catwalk or how to do you get set up with an agency. Then I got talking to photographer Erica Irvine. She does a lot of weddings but wanted to do more fashion as an extra to use her creative side. So we combined forces and I decided to do something in Fermanagh so we could have something west of the Bann."
The newly formed Judith Wilson School of Modelling is now open for business and aims to offer young people - girls and boys - with an interest in modelling, a chance to pursue a career in the industry.
And already the bookings are building up which Judith explains shows there is a demand for this type of training in the county.
"It is pretty evident from the response I have got so far which has been brilliant, that this is something people are looking for. I can take eight boys and girls in each class. From what people have been saying they think it is a good idea and they want something like this to come out of Fermanagh."
With Judith's wealth of modelling experience, from catwalk shows to the Miss World stage, she is in a prime position to teach prospective students how to walk, pose and strut their stuff on the catwalk, as well as sharing her inside tips on how to succeed in the industry, giving young people a deeper insight into the modelling world.
The day package costs £135 and is available to girls and boys aged 16 and above. Those under 18 require signed parental permission.
The first class is taking place on Sunday March 21 and will run form 9.30am-4.30pm in a conference room in the Belmore Court Motel.
The day starts off with Judith teaching students about the industry.
"In the morning I will give a talk to the students about modelling in Northern Ireland and the various modelling agencies you can join. Then we will take a break and students will get their hair (Helen McCartney, Headquarters) and make-up (Siobhan Grey) done for their own fashion photoshoot with Erica Irvine. The day finishes with me doing catwalking training. All in all, it is a great day of fun and pampering and ideal for those who are ready to get kick-started into the modelling industry."
Students will leave with a confident portfolio of 10 images supplied on CD which can be brought to any modelling agency."
Judith says the modelling industry is generally thriving in the north.
"Belfast is really coming on in modelling so I think it is important that we can source people from all areas of Northern Ireland. The school will allow me to keep going with the modelling side of things. I have a learned a lot from my experience and now I want to pass on that knowledge to people who, like me in the beginning, didn't know how to go about it."
