Nottingham's newest model

How I was spotted as a top model

Written by: Riah Matthews
Published Nottingham Evening Post, Thursday 12 November 09

AT HOME in Woodthorpe in hoody and jeans, 16-year-old Alice Hillyer is every inch the typical schoolgirl. But in London Alice is known as Riley – and works as a model for the UK's number-one agency. This time last year, Arnold Hill student Alice – though she now prefers "Riley" – went on a school trip to the Clothes Show Live and was scouted by London-based agency Select, who picked the new name.

She said: "I was with my best friend who just said, Oh you're always getting scouted! I had done a bit of modelling before, so it wasn't a big shock." Riley now spends her spare time in London, taking part in shoots and castings.

Standing nearly 5ft 10in, she said she had always felt very tall compared to her school friends – but now felt small next to models she described as "massive". She said she juggled schoolwork with modelling and has had nine jobs since being spotted, appearing in teen magazines Sugar and Shout.

Riley has managed to stay modest and said she put any nasty comments down to jealousy.
She said: "In Sugar they were really nice pictures – everyone said it looked like me, but really different.

"It was weird to see myself. "At school once, the magazine was on the table and some girls were like, Oh my God, that's you! "My friends are all really nice – but I've heard some people say that I'm 'not even a good model'."

For each job Riley does the agency takes 20% of the fee; she gets to keep the rest. She said: "I have spent most of the money on clothes! Mum goes mad at me and says I need to save."

Riley said she wasn't sure modelling was something she would pursue full-time after school.
She said: "Next year I'd like to do beauty therapy at Clarendon College. "I want to get some qualifications before I go into modelling full-time."

The fashion industry has been criticised for the effect it has had on some young girls but Riley's mum, Jenny, a caterer, said she was happy for her daughter to pursue a career there.
She added: "Sometimes we worry about safety when she goes down to London, but she's very capable and sensible."

When Riley works away from home she stays with one of the bookers from her agency and navigates her own way to castings using the Underground. Jenny said: "I've been down with her before and traipsing around castings isn't much fun. It's much harder than a normal Saturday job."

Riley's 21-year-old sister Lucy also does some modelling and the agency has asked about her twin brother, Joe. Jenny said: "I'm not sure where we get all of our tall children from!"
Select Models will be looking for new faces exclusively at the Clothes Show Live from December 4-9 at Birmingham NEC.

For more information go to http://www.selectmodels.com/.

features@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk

More Models from Notts

Riley is not the only Notts model we have featured in the Evening Post. Remember these?

Lisa Bangert (right), former page three model, from Mansfield. She appeared as an extra in Tomorrow Never Dies.

Charissa Watson, from Sherwood, Miss Black Britain finalist 2008. The competition prompted a record number of comments on the Post website.

Tiffany Tyler, from Bramcote, is Miss Nottingham. She is the girlfriend of Forest player Robert Earnshaw.

Lea Walker, from Carlton, glamour model. The mum-of-three was the sixth person to be booted out of Big Brother 2006.

Would be great if we could get Riley or any of these local Nottingham Models involved with our event.

Posted by: Michelle Nielsen