28th November 2011

BAY beauty Chloe Munton is set to make waves at the Elle New Talent Fresh Face Search (EFFS) 2012 where she hopes to take the title. The Collegiate High School Grade 11 pupil entered the competition two months ago, not expecting much. After being interviewed by a panel of judges, she was told she had made the top 10 finalists.At the beginning of this month, the excited 17-year-old was flown to Cape Town for a round of judging where she made it into the top six.

Chloe said she had always been interested in fashion and stumbled across the competition while browsing the Elle website. “I came across last year’s competition and saw they were looking for new entrants. So I figured: Why don’t I tr y.

“When they phoned to say I had made the top 10, I was shocked and speechless. But I could barely hear what the woman was saying because my mom was so happy she was screaming in the background,” she said.

Not having had much modelling experience apart from modelling clothing for Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University fashion students, the teenager is exceeding all expectations.

She is the only finalist from the Eastern Cape. The others hail from Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Chloe said modelling had given her newfound confidence but she had no intention of stopping her studies if she won the competition. “If I do win, I won’t allow it to affect my studies.

“I intend finishing my matric and furthering my studies in fashion design after school. It’s education before modelling,” she said.

Chloe’s father, Derek Munton – her biggest supporter – agreed with his daughter, saying that despite this being a huge opportunity, she should not lose sight of her educational goals.

“We are all very excited but, at the same time, we are optimistically cautious about the environment. Modelling, although a huge opportunity, is usually a short- lived career.

“We have discussed it and agree that we need to ensure her studies take top priority.

“That being said, this is an opportunity she can’t afford to overlook,” he said.

The winner of the competition will receive R20 000 worth of makeup and clothing from Woolworths, a two-year modelling contract with Boss Models in Cape Town, and a modelling portfolio worth R10 000 and will appear on the cover of Elle magazine and in the Woolworths summer and winter campaigns. There will also be R40 000 in cash from the sponsors.

From this point in the competition it is up to the public to decide on the overall winner.

To support Chloe in her quest to become Elle’s Fresh Face, SMS ELLECHLOE to 40880. The voting lines close on December 2 and the winner will be announced on December 8.