Me... as a Special K Billboard Model for the day!

Last weekend was a weekend of firsts. Not only did I start a weekly gymnastics class that, in fit of enthusiasm, I signed up for, but I was on billboards big and small all over Westfield shopping centre! More about the gymnastics in a soon-to-come post so you can save your sniggering for then. Right now, I want to tell you how and why I was a billboard model for a day!!


You may have seen the new advertising campaign from Special K on your TVs and in your magazines. Unlike previous campaigns, the message is all about feeling positive and good about yourself and less about the pure weight loss. Makes perfect sense to me; there's no point setting yourself up for failure with lofty resolutions and ideals about turning over a new leaf. Much better to promise to be good to yourself and do things that make you happier. Much like my New Year Non-Resolutions this year, which you can read about HERE.

So, to launch the campaign, Special K invited 10 lucky bloggers to Westfield for a day full of pampering, a modelling shoot with a celebrity photographer, lunch and a spot of shopping to round it all off. Sounds just like my kind of day, so of course I responded with an enthusiastic yes and found myself at the very glamourous Special K Lounge in Westfield last Saturday morning.

First off, I was treated to a fabulous makeover by the lovely Dulcie who, along with letting me on some make-up artist secrets, created a subtle smokey eye, flawless skin and a headful of wavy hair. I was then whisked over to meet celebrity photographer Joel Anderson. Now, he's a man who's worked with the likes of Cheryl Cole, Jamie Murray and Mylene Klass, so I can imagine I was something of a let-down, but he was brilliant at making me feel at ease. Et voila! Within minutes, there was my image, beaming down at shoppers from above the restaurants and all around the shopping centre. Now I know I'm constantly photographing myself for this blog, but it's really something else to see yourself on a billboard! Is it really vain of me to say that I loved the feeling?

Hard at work on... it's not all playtime, you know!

As the message from Special K is about what you want to gain (from life) when you lose (the weight), we were asked to think of an inspiring word that described which quality we wanted to gain in 2013. To tie in with my take on resolutions, I went for "sparkle" to "embrace life to the full".

As part of the pampering session we had a mini-consultation with Colour Me Beautiful consultant Charlotte, who, with the aid of a couple of very attractive bibs, showed me very effectively which are my colours and which are most definitely not!

We were then treated to lovely lunch at Busaba Eathai, already one of my favourite restaurants for lunch, but in the spirit of the day, I chose something from the menu that I hadn't tried before.

Ten very pampered ladies, ready for lunch!

And if all that wasn't enough, the very lovely people from Special K gave us not only a huge bag full of Special K goodies, but ALSO, a voucher to go shopping in Westfield. So I teamed up with the beautiful Jayne, fellow beauty blogger, for some serious make-up shopping! Instead of spending it all in MAC (how easy that would be!), she veered me toward Inglot, a brand I'd heard so much good stuff about but never tried. So another first for me! I'll be showing you my little purchases very soon :)

Oh, and if you're wondering, I'm wearing Maje knitted dress and a pair of well-loved Dolce & Gabbana heels.

Photos of me and Dulcie, the make-up artist, by Simon Tang.