A catwalk cakewalk as Ashley breezes through

May 14 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

BRITAIN’S Next Top Model hopeful Ashley Brown sailed through to the next round of the competition after an emotional episode.

The Livingston model had to take part in a photoshoot highlighting domestic violence — a crime she has been the victim of in the past.

But the 20-year-old bravely put her all into the job and helped create some powerful images which may be used by the charity Refuge for a campaign to raise awareness of the issue.

However, despite this Ashley says she was more nervous of the speech she had to give in front of a group of teenagers on the show.

She said: “I was really nervous when I found out we would be speaking in front of kids as they are worse than adults at times in terms of giving you criticism.

“I just told them to follow their dreams and go for it. I never got any bad comments for my talk so I was quite happy.”

Ashley, who says she cringes every time she sees herself on television, had a special guest to watch the latest episode with her.

Ashley watched the show at her mum’s home in Eliburn with fellow contestant and friend Annalice and was wincing every time they appeared on screen.

The mother-of-two said: “I don’t like watching myself on the programme at all.

“I cringe when they show me and hate hearing my accent on the TV.

“I remind myself of all the annoying people I used to see on programmes and would want to just shut up.”

Ashley says her fellow model loved Livingston and will be back up for a visit soon.

She added: “She thought it was amazing. She said my family is now her new family as she was made to feel so welcome.

“On the Saturday we went to an event at Livingston Football Club before we went to Club Earth and we were given a booth and some champagne there.

“She hasn’t travelled around the UK too much outside London but she says she loves Scotland now.”

And the stunning model said she was delighted when she received a letter congratulating her on her progress in the show from Livingston MSP Angela Constance.

“I couldn’t believe it when I got it. I was shocked and very proud that I had been recognised.

“She congratulated me and said I was a great ambassador for West Lothian.

“It was really nice of her to take the time out to write to me.

Follow Ashley’s progress as she aims to become the country’s next catwalk queen on Britain’s Next Top Model on Living TV next Monday at 9pm.