Kayte's got definite specs appeal!

Aug 2 2007

A BEVY of bespectacled beauties came under the close eye of the Birmingham Mail when we joined the search to find the Midlander with the best 'bins'.

Reporter Anna Jeys turned Sharon Osborne as part of the judging panel for the Specsavers Spectacle Wearer of the Year competition.

Seven eager contestants beat off competition from 5,000 entrants to reach the regional semi-final at the New Street store.

But their fate lay in the hands of fellow glasses wearer Anna Jeys, no stranger to making a spectacle of herself, who cast the final vote to find out who had the most Specs appeal.

The overall winner will go on to bag a year-long modelling contract with London agency MOT and a luxurious holiday.

The hopefuls, from Birmingham, Solihull, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire were marked on eyes, face, figure, hair, personality and features.

After 20 minutes of deliberations and a photoshoot to discover the most photogenic look, 20-year-old Cheltenham beauty Kayte Armstrong was chosen as the winner.

The fashion sales adviser will go on to a glittering final in London in October, where she will be in with a chance of winning the life-changing modelling contract.

She said: "I just could not believe it when they read out my name. I hadn't even told any of my family because I didn't think I had a chance. I just entered because I thought I had nothing to lose.

"Being a model would be a dream come true for me. I would love to be in a glossy magazine. I'm really excited just to go to the final."

The judging panel also included Gemma Duport from Specsavers Opticians, Jessica Illes from MOT and store director Neil Jones.

Judge and Birmingham Mail reporter Anna Jeys said: "There were some Spec-tacular entrants and it was a tough decision to call.

"You could clearly see the talent on show. I focused on all their qualities and I'm sure Kayte will go on to win frame and fortune in the final. She may not have had perfect eyesight, but she was still a vision in the judges' eyes."