Ulster Tatler – June 2019

MODELS : THEN & NOW

Models

Then & Now

When did you start your
modelling career?
I started when I joined the Ulster Bank as
Alison Smyth in 1979 when I moved to live
in Belfast. I went to an evening modelling
course, however I never ever got one paid
job from them. Don’t know whether it was
me or them?

Were you scouted or was it something you
set out to do?
I lived in a student type house with a few
girls in Belfast, one of whom was Judith
Quinn, from Portstewart. I used to go and
spend weekends at the coast with her and
we went regularly to The Strand Hotel.
They ran a heat of Miss Northern Ireland
there and a heat of Miss North West 200
on the same night. I was lucky and won
Miss Strand which got me through to the
Miss Northern Ireland Final in 1982 and
that’s really where it all started for me.

Did you have a particular mentor or
someone you looked up to for advice?
When I won Miss Northern Ireland it was
organised by a lady called Kathy Anderson

who ran an agnecy called Catwalk. She

was well connected in Belfast at that time

and did get me a lot of work.

What has been the stand out moment in

your modelling career and why?

I was always part time modelling and

continued to work full time in the bank at

the time. As Miss Northen Ireland, I then

qualified for the live televised Miss United

Kingdom final in London. I came runner

up, I won £1000. The Bank moved me into

their PR department and I spent several

years there working for the remarkable

late John Kenny who taught me a lot about

PR and journalism.

However, I guess my hobby turned into

my career when I left the bank on 31st

October 1990 and set up my model agency

the very next day on 1st November 1990,

now the longest running agency in Ireland.

Do you have any regrets, something you

wish you did or didn’t do?

Back in the early 80s Belfast I used to meet

up with Eamonn Holmes who was a good

friend and we used to chat about what we

were going to do. He was the new boy star

on UTV and I was Miss NI, we were like

local celebs!

I considered moving to London but I was

very comfortable as a big fish in a small

pond here in NI and I didn’t have the guts

to do what he did and take the leap to

mainland UK. What may have been? But I

don’t regret not going at all. However I do

sometimes wonder, what if?

What era of fashion was your favourite?

I guess it has to the 80s, glam and stylish.

Princess Diana, bows, shoulder pads and

stylish suits. I never went for anything

OTT, but I did, and do still, love the

glamorous look.

What is your advice for young people

today looking to get into modelling?

Don’t do what I did and pay any money

to do a modelling course. If you are good

enough the agency will see the potential

in you and teach you the ropes and guide

you through various jobs and roles until

you start to get established.

What qualities and skills did you learn

from your modelling career?

I can turn on a smile for the camera at any

minute of any day! I was never so good at

the pout! I do know how to pose the most

flattering way in front of the camera...usually.

I am a hard worker, I never stop; I have

to get everything completed correctly

and on time. I am never late for important

events; I never ever let anyone down, if I

commit to something I follow through. I

used to be absolutely ecstatic when I got

jobs, I would have never said no to any job

offer. I always try to be well groomed.

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This month Ulster Tatler speaks to Alison Clarke and Zoe Salmon about their modelling careers and how it

shaped them as the people they are now.

ALiSON

CLArkE