Picture special: Newmains model Jenna Cooper dreams of New York Fashion Week after catwalk debut

Nov 7 2012 by Euan McLelland, Wishaw Press

A Newmains teenager is aiming to take the modelling world by storm after being hand-picked for one of Scotlands biggest catwalk shows.

Former Clyde Valley High pupil Jenna Cooper was signed up by top national agency Model Scotland earlier this year after her natural beauty caught the eye of a professional photographer during a chance encounter in Glasgow.

The 17-year-old came to the aid of a photography student pal after one of her models for a college shoot pulled out in January.

Strutting her stuff in front of the camera for the first time, Jenna proved to be a natural and was encouraged to give professional modelling a try.

It's been a whirlwind year since for lovely Jenna, who in less than 12 months has already been signed up by an exclusive Scottish agency; become the face of global fashion retailer Krush's website; and just last weekend topped it all by parading down the catwalk at Scotland's Top Fashion Designers Show.

Jenna told the Wishaw Press: "The Top Designers Show featured Scotland's biggest designers. It was the first time I'd ever did anything like that and I was alongside girls who had walked at London Fashion Week so I was pretty nervous before going out, but when I got out there it was brilliant a really good experience."

The show held in Glasgow's River Palace Hall on Saturday may have only been Jenna's first catwalk, but if the interest the 17-year-old has already generated has anything to go by, it certainly won't be the last.

She explained: "At the start of the year my friend and I decided to try modelling. I'd never thought of being a model before but one of my friends is at college studying photography and was left short when one of the models shed prepared for a shoot pulled out. She then asked if I could step in.

"I went along without really a clue what I was doing,  I'd always been more into my horses and rolling about in the mud! When I was there my friend's lecturer said that I should do modelling, so I decided to try and see if I could get any freelance work.

"My friend Becky and I then managed to get our first job modelling for fashion website Krush, with us as the face of their range. After that we decided it would be best to go with an agency.

"I contacted Model Scotland who invited me to come along for what I thought was an amateur shoot. I went along and then realised they wanted me in for an interview!"

And it was then that Jenna - who works part-time in Cafe Lavena, Newmains - stepped into a professional modelling career.

The teen continued: "As shallow as it seems I think the interview was more just seeing how I look rather than what I could say. In the end they thought I had a good look and asked me to sign a contract the next day. I was so surprised but delighted!

"They then helped me put together a portfolio and I've been getting jobs since, doing location shoots, all my work for Krush and of course my catwalk debut at the weekend.

"My dream now is to be part of New York Fashion Week. I didn't start out wanting to do catwalks but after Scotland's Top Fashion Designers Show I am so keen,  I absolutely loved it."