We speak to our model comp winner Megan McMinn

We launched our Yumi and Sapphires model comp way back when in May and after trawling the UK and spotting some super talent, we just couldn’t get the lovely Megan McMinn out of our minds, who we spotted on the first leg of the search in St Ives.

Fast forward to last week when we met with Sapphires and finally agreed that Megan was the one that we want(ed!) … watch this space for behind the scenes info and gossip on our shoot with Megan and keep switched on to ours and Sapphires’ social media to follow Megans journey. For now, we caught up with Megan to find out a little bit more about our redhead of the moment….

How does it feel to be the winner of the Yumi and Sapphires model competition?

It’s quite a surreal feeling, it just seems too good to be true! I’ve been a fan of Yumi for years now, so it just feels amazing to have been recognised by the wonderful people behind the brand. I still haven’t quite got my head around it, but seeing my photo on Yumi’s Facebook page made it seem more real.

Who was the first person you told?

I was having coffee with my fiance when I checked my emails and found out. I squealed quite loudly, told him what had happened and then called my parents to share the good news. My dad was kind enough to give me a lift to St Ives so that I could enter the model search, so he’d been asking about it on a daily basis!

Have you been interested on modelling for some time?

I’ve always loved the idea of modelling — my mum modelled when she was my age, and I love looking at her old photos. It only became a reality for me at the beginning of this year when I started to entering modelling competitions. Despite winning my first two, the idea of approaching agencies still made me feel extremely nervous. Since I’m a few sizes larger than your standard model, I was certain that nowhere would take me seriously.

Who inspires you most in terms of style?

I’m a complete sucker for all things fantasy, so I’m inspired by everything from Disney films to Pre-Raphaelite paintings. I also draw a lot of inspiration from the fashion blogging community and the friends I’ve made through it — they’re such creative, refreshing individuals. My style icons are pretty diverse, however my top three would probably be Karen Elson, Florence Welch and Dita Von Teese.

 What one beauty item can’t you live without?

Hair dye. I’ve had my red hair for four or five years now, and it just makes me feel so much more confident and comfortable in my appearance. It’s such a big part of who I am, and I feel like it suits my personality down to a tee.

What is your fashion mantra?

Wear what makes you feel beautiful. Dress for yourself, not for other people.

Do you plan your outfits in advance?

Starting my fashion blog (The Briar Rose) encouraged me to be a little more creative with my outfits, and nowadays it isn’t unlike me to contemplate an outfit a few days before I actually wear it. However, no matter how much I plan, I always end up making little changes when I actually put it together!