Name:
Madeleine Bowden
(Miss Justin Hoyte, Arsenal and England U-21)
Age: 19
Lives: Essex
Occupation: Singer and Dancer
Why
should the public vote for you to win the show?
I have worked my arse off throughout and not complained once!
Have
you learned anything new about yourself from your experiences on the
show?
I have learnt that I struggle to work alongside people with a slightly
less respectful work ethic shall we say! Working with someone like that
can really cause tensions in a team. But on the plus side, I have really
enjoyed doing something valuable for charity and it’s really given
me the charity bug. I want to do more!
What
is your favourite moment from the series?
When we won the Now magazine challenge as it was really good
fun and such a great, tangible reward at the end.
Which
of the girls will you keep in touch with after the show has finished?
I’ll keep in touch with a few of them to see how they are getting
on…
Have
you learned anything new about fashion during your time in the shops?
That money can’t buy you style?!
Are
you and Justin relieved the show is coming to an end?
It’s a bit bittersweet – I am going to miss the shops, interacting
with the shoppers/viewers as everyone was so lovely but Justin is pleased
because he has missed me!
What
were the best and worst parts of the show?
The worst was probably the times when I wasn’t getting on with
some of the girls, being thrown into an intense situation with lots
of different personalities can be hard but I would just remind myself
why I was doing it – for charity.
What
are your plans for the future?
It’s full steam ahead with my band, Rockerbaby. We’re planning
to go on tour later in the year…
Name:
Michaela Henderson-Thynne
(Former Miss Stewart Downing)
Age: 21
Lives: Middlesbrough
Occupation: Law Student
Why should the public vote for you to win the
show?
Because I have put my all into the programme and it’s been an
amazing experience.
What
is your favourite moment from the series?
Paris was an amazing time. It was fun to be in Paris and we got to go
up to the Eiffel Tower. The whole experience of the show was really
new then and so it was really fun.
Which
of the girls will you keep in touch with after the show has finished
and who are you not bothered about seeing again?
I would like to see all of the girls again, but mainly I will keep in
touch with Julie, Heather, Charlotte, Cassie and Krystell.
Are
you relieved the show is coming to an end?
No, not really. As much as it has been really hard work and time consuming
as I am in London for most of the week, I will miss all of the girls
and being in the shops.
What
were the best and worst parts of the show?
The worst thing about the show is that I have had to be in London for
five days a week; away from my friends and family. The best part about
the show has been having lots of fun and meeting loads of new people.
Which
celebrity do you think should have come into your shops for a fashion
makeover?
Amy Winehouse or Lily Allen. I really don’t think they are very
fashionable; I think their dress sense is bizarre. It would be great
to dress them in normal clothes!
What
are your plans for the future?
First is to finish my law degree. After that, anything really, whatever
comes along. I wouldn’t give up law to go into fashion; fashion
is something I can continue to do as well as law.
Name:
Julie Phillips
(Mrs Kevin Phillips, West Bromich Albion)
Age: 36
Lives: Near Birmingham
Occupation: Housewife and mother
Why
should the public vote for you to win the show?
I think I am the most down-to-earth girl on the show, I’ve got
no airs and graces and I get on with anyone. I’ve worked really
hard despite having four children I’ve had to leave at home, which
has been really difficult. I’ve given all my time to the show
and not taken a single day off. I’ve put my heart and soul into
this and really enjoyed it so I think for my dedication and team-playing
I should be crowned the winner!
Have
you learned anything new about yourself from your experiences on the
show?
Kevin and I have talked about this – it was him who gave me the
push to take part as I lacked the confidence to begin with but I’m
so proud of myself as I have taken to the task in hand and really grown
in confidence. I didn’t realise how far I could push myself and
feel I have come out of this a better person. I’ll be so sad when
it all finishes.
What
is your favourite moment from the series?
Definitely when I went on Soccer AM and scored a goal – when Kevin
went on and did the same thing he missed so that’s been a sore
point in our house! I’m always replaying the clip to wind him
up…
Which
of the girls will you keep in touch with after the show has finished
and who are you not bothered about seeing again?
Krystell definitely. We’re quite similar and we both have young
kids so have really bonded. I’ll be calling her up after the show
and hopefully we’ll meet up as well. I’ll probably send
Christmas cards to all the others!
How
much have you spent in your shop and in the rivals shop?
I haven’t really done as much shopping as the other girls as I’ve
been so busy working but I did spend over £2,000 on the hoodies
making sure all my friends that wanted them got one.
Have
you adapted to being as famous as your other half and do they get annoyed
with your new
found fame?
People have recognised me first and not Kevin which is strange but he
just tells me to enjoy it while I can!
Is
Kevin relieved the show is coming to an end?
Actually Kevin has been really supportive. Obviously he has had his
downs when I’ve been away for several days at a time but he understands
as he says this has been a really good opportunity for me and I’ve
stood by him with his work over the years.
What
were the best and worst parts of the show?
To be honest, I haven’t enjoyed being on the till much as you
have to really concentrate and there isn’t so much ‘mingling’
which I really liked!
What
are your plans for the future?
The world’s your oyster! Obviously immediate plans are to spend
some quality time with Kevin and the kids but then who knows.
Name:
Krystell Sidwell
(Mrs Steven Sidwell, Reading)
Age: 23
Lives: Reading
Occupation: Housewife and mother, trained
hairdresser
Why
should the public vote for you to win the show?
I am very understanding and have given my all to the whole project –
110% since the show started and I do well on challenges!
Have
you learned anything new about yourself from your experiences on the
show?
I’ve learnt that I am much more tolerant than I thought I was
– both with the public and my fellow team members. I’ve
also learnt to enjoy myself again – as a mum and housewife you
can often forget about yourself and spend so much time putting your
husband and children first so it’s been fun to rediscover my independence
and remember me!
What
is your favourite moment from the series?
Winning the first challenge, definitely – it was brilliant and
such a buzz to be off to a winning start!
Which
of the girls will you keep in touch with after the show has finished?
I’ll keep in touch with Nicola, Heather and Charlotte and Julie.
Have
you learned anything new about fashion during your time in the shops?
Not to invent hoodies! I’m more confident about my own fashion
and style now –I have learnt to be more daring and take risks!
Have
you adapted to being as famous as Sid and does he get annoyed with your
new found fame?
Sid thinks it’s funny because it is normally him who gets recognised
so he finds it quite strange. When I’ve been shopping in Reading,
young girls have followed me into a shop which is quite bizarre!
Is
Sid relieved the show is coming to an end?
I think Sid is ready for the show to finish – he says my dinners
have gone downhill!
What
are your plans for the future?
We’ve got lots of holidays planned – going to Hawaii for
Sid’s brother wedding and going on holiday with Bobby and Nicola.
Got lots of hen do’s as well – basically a lot of holidaying
and partying!
Name:
Nicola T
(Miss Bobby Zamora, West Ham)
Age: 25
Lives: London
Occupation: Page 3 Model
Why
should the public vote for you to win the show?
Because I really want to win! I’ve worked exceptionally hard and
I feel like I have made some really valuable contributions to the success
of the shop – including a lot of the stock buying. I’m quite
bossy and controlling so have done lots of the organising as well!
Have
you learned anything new about yourself from your experiences on the
show?
That I’m definitely not shy of a hard day’s work! I’ve
worked some really long hours on this project – doing stuff that
is totally different to what I normally do.
What
is your favourite moment from the series?
When Krystell got out of the car! We’re old friends and she kept
it a secret that she was doing the show as well so I had no idea she
was going to be joining us until she stepped out of the car!
Which
of the girls will you keep in touch with after the show has finished?
I’ll definitely still be in regular contact with Krystell and
Jadene as I was friends with them before the show.
Have
you learned anything new about fashion during your time in the shops?
The mark-up is ridiculous! I don’t think I’ll ever want
to buy anything in a shop again now I know what these things cost at
wholesale price!
Is
Bobby relieved the show is coming to an end?
I think so as it has been quite stressful at times.
What
were the best and worst parts of the show?
The worst part was losing the advertising challenge – I worked
really hard on that and so wanted to win it – it was the first
time I had cried over something to do with the shops!
What
are your plans for the future?
Just to be happy in whatever it is I do next – as long as I am
leading a happy and successful life.
Name:
Jadene Bircham
(Mrs Marc Bircham, QPR and Canada)
Age: 32
Lives: Hertfordshire
Occupation: Runs a Model Agency
Why
should the public vote for you to win the show?
Because I’ve never won anything in my life!
What
is your favourite moment from the series?
The day Better Half won Trevor Beattie’s advertising challenge.
We were told we’d won on Mothers Day and I’d taken my two
boys to the filming of the result and they were really proud. My ten
years old’s school friends watch the show and he said to me on
the way there “you’d better not lose mum!”
How
much have you spent in your shop and in the rivals shop?
I’ve bought a lot of pressies for friends and family from both
shops so I’ve spent a lot more than I intended to!
Have
you learned anything new about fashion during your time in the shops?
Not a thing! I’ve always been confident with fashion but the show
has opened my eyes as to how hard it is to run a boutique. I take my
hat off to any owner that runs a boutique and makes a success of it
because it’s such a hard game to be in.
Is
Marc relieved the show is coming to an end?
He is because I’m pregnant so I can start relaxing. He’s
also looking forward to it so I can get back to cooking his dinners
again!
What
were the best and worst parts of the show?
The best was being with all the girls and experiencing new challenges
every week. I tried to embrace everything and take in as much as I could.
The worst part was being away from the kids and not being able to give
them enough time – they’re daddy’s boys now!
Which
celebrity do you think should have come into your shops for a fashion
makeover?
I would have liked to have got my hands on Daniella Westbrook –
I’d like to transform the chav celebs to chic!
What
are your plans for the future?
God has a plan, let’s see what happens…
Name:
Elle Isaac
(Miss Paul Ifill, Crystal Palace and Barbados)
Age: 21
Lives: South London
Occupation: Housewife and mother
Why
should the public vote for you to win the show?
I’ve just been me the whole way through, friendly, down to earth
and not a trouble maker - what you see is what you get!
Have
you learned anything new about yourself from your experiences on the
show?
Because the girls are all quite confrontational and upfront it’s
made me more confident and not scared to say what I think.
Which
of the girls will you keep in touch with after the show has finished
and who are you not bothered about seeing again?
I’ll stay in touch with most of the girls from Better Half. I
knew Jadene before the show started and I’ve bonded with Cassie,
Charlotte and Heather. I get on well with Michaela from Bows but I’m
glad I don’t work with her!
Is
your partner relieved the show is coming to an end?
Yes – he’s fed up sitting at home on his own!
What
are your plans for the future?
I’m considering opening up my own boutique as I’ve just
moved to Brighton. The show hasn’t put me off working in fashion
at all! I’d also love to get into presenting.
Name:
Charlotte Mears
(Soon to be Mrs Jermain Defoe, Tottenham and England)
Age: 21
Lives: Essex
Occupation: Model
Why
should the public vote for you to win the show?
I have worked hard and had fun along the way, plus I try not to swear
like the other girls. I am entertaining to watch as I make people laugh,
although it is never on purpose. If I win I will sing Somewhere Over
The Rainbow live.
Have
you learned anything new about yourself from your experiences on the
show?
I have learnt that the customer is ALWAYS right and they should not
be kept waiting! I have learnt that I am very impatient and I like things
done my way. I have also learnt to stand up for myself. Before I wouldn’t
have said boo to a goose, but here if you don’t say what you think
you have to bottle it up and come back to work with the same people
the next day.
Which
of the girls will you keep in touch with after the show has finished?
I definitely would like to keep in touch with Heather, Elle and Cassie.
In the other team I would like to keep in contact with Michaela. You
can read between the lines as to the names I have left out!
Have
you adapted to being as famous as Jermain and does he get annoyed with
your new found fame?
I don’t think I will ever be as famous as Jermain. I have done
this show for charity and to have some fun, but Jermain has a world
class talent and that will over take anything I will ever do. I am really
oblivious to a lot of things: I am in Charlotte’s world a lot
of the time, so if people have recognised me then I haven’t noticed.
We went to a football match the other day and we were both asked for
our autographs and Jermain thought it was hilarious.
Is
Jermain relieved the show is coming to an end?
I think Jermain will be happy the show is coming to an end as he will
be happy to have me home more. He gets bored if he is at home and I
am not coming home until late that night.
What
was the worst part of the show?
The worst part of the show has been the arguments and disputes, which
we had a lot of before the shops even opened. Some days you don’t
want to even come into the shop, because there is such a nasty atmosphere.
As much as a lot of the girls have annoyed me and I say that I hate
them, I know that when the show finishes I will really miss everyone.
Which
celebrity do you think should have come into your shops for a fashion
makeover?
Britney Spears. I think she is going through a bit of a crisis at the
moment and I think I am the right girl to sort out her wardrobe. I have
always wanted to dress people and make them look pretty, so that would
be something that I would look into the future at doing; fashion and
styling, things like that.
What
are your plans for the future?
I have been modelling for three years now and so I have always wanted
to pursue that. I have just signed a contract to be the new face of
Lipsy; the campaign will start in the summer. Anything that comes my
way and that is right for me, I am sure I will pursue.
Name:
Heather Swan
(Soon-to-be-Mrs Michael Chopra, Cardiff City)
Age: 24
Lives: Cardiff
Occupation: Model and Actress
Why
should the public vote for you to win the show?
I’ve really enjoyed doing the show and I think I have offered
my own fashion knowledge to both the other girls and the customers.
I would love to be chosen as the favourite WAG.
Have
you learned anything new about yourself from your experiences on the
show?
I have learnt a lot from being on the show, both in fashion terms and
learning to get along with the other nine girls. I have learnt to stand
up for myself a lot more than normally I do and I have also learnt to
voice my opinions more. If you believe that something is important you
need to stay true to what you believe in.
Which
of the girls will you keep in touch with after the show has finished
and who are you not bothered about seeing again?
I will definitely stay in touch with Charlotte. I think we have bonded
well, because we have a lot in common. We seem to have become the bosom
buddies of Better Half!
Have
you learned anything new about fashion during your time in the shops?
I have not learned so much about fashion, but the background of fashion;
what goes into running a shop and the whole buying aspect, rather than
about what to wear.
Have
you adapted to being as famous as your other half and do they get annoyed
with your new found fame?
I don’t get recognised that much. Michael still gets recognised
more than I do in Cardiff. There is not much competition there yet!
Is
Michael relieved the show is coming to an end?
Michael has been very proud of what I have done and he has been very
supportive. I think he has missed me and is looking forward to me coming
home to cook the meals! I can’t wait to watch him play football
as I haven’t seen him play since the show started.
What
were the best and worst parts of the show?
The best part of the show was all of the laughs we have had. When you
put ten girls together and a crew the giggles are inevitable. The worst
part has been all of the travelling; I am sick of the M4! I have not
liked being away from home either and I have missed my bed!
Which
celebrity do you think should have come into your shops for a fashion
makeover?
It would have been nice to have had the support of some of the high
profile WAGs to get more respect from the customers. Someone like Coleen
would have been great.
What
are your plans for the future?
When the show finishes I am planning my wedding, so that will take up
lots of my time. I would like to continue within fashion or the media
and I hope this show will lead to some good career opportunities. I
would love to get back into acting also, which is what I am trained
in.
Name:
Cassie Sumner
(Former Miss Michael Essien)
Age: 24
Lives: London
Occupation: Glamour Model
Why
should the public vote for you to win the show?
I would love to win and if the public thinks I deserve to I would be
ecstatic. However if I don’t win, I have enjoyed this experience
so much and am so grateful to have been given this opportunity that
winning would be a bonus.
Have
you learned anything new about yourself from your experiences on the
show?
Yes a lot! When I started this show I was going out with a premiership
footballer and I did not have to work or do anything. You could have
said I was a bit of a princess so doing this show was a reality check!
I realised how much satisfaction you can get from being successful in
your own right and although at times I’ve hated the hard work,
I battled on because for once I wanted to achieve and prove something
to myself. I’ve done that and I’m really proud of myself.
I feel as though I have been on a journey and came out the end a better
person.
What
is your favourite moment from the series?
I can’t put my finger on one particular moment as there have been
so many! I have honestly had such fun doing the show. I’ve made
a load of new good friends, learnt a lot of valuable business knowledge,
and hopefully entertained a lot of people - it’s been great.
Which
of the girls will you keep in touch with after the show has finished
and who are you not bothered about seeing again?
I would like to keep in touch with all the girls. We have been together
since last November and although we’ve had our ups and downs I
will miss them all and wish them the best for the future. It will be
weird not seeing them!
How
much have you spent in your shop and in the rivals shop?
I won’t reveal exactly how much but as everything I’ve spent
has gone to a good cause I’ve been able to combine my two favourite
things - shopping and charity!
What
were the best and worst parts of the show?
At times I felt like I was on a rollercoaster of emotions. One minute
I would be laughing hysterically and the next crying! I think the worst
part of the show was the reality of how hard it is to run and open a
successful boutique or business. I take my hat off to successful business
women but seeing the end result and feeling like you really have achieved
something made it all worthwhile so that has been the best part.
Which
celebrity do you think should have come into your shops for a fashion
makeover?
Russell Brand (an ex of Cassie’s). He looks terrible, like a smelly
version of Captain Jack Sparrow!
What
are your plans for the future?
This show has opened my eyes to a lot of things. I’m not scared
of change any more and want to move on from my modelling career. I’ll
see where life takes me.
ANNA
PARK
Bows Mentor
Why
do the girls from your team deserve to win?
Bows deserve to win because they’ve put everything into raising
money for charity and took making money for Great Ormond Street very
seriously. They very wisely put charity hoodies in the shops which were
a phenomenal idea and it was all the girl’s idea.
If
you could employ one WAG from Bows/Better Half in your boutique who
it would be and why?
I would employ Krystell in a management role tomorrow. In a fun role
I would employ Julie as a sales girl but only part time! You get the
best out of Julie in a short time span.
If you could have fired one WAG throughout the
course of the series who would it have been?
I would have definitely fired Charlotte. It’s all about me with
Charlotte, she is more interested in getting her hair and nails done
and leaving the shop early. She is very much what I consider a WAG.
There was a period when I would have fired Michaela. I was furious at
the way she spoke to Julie in the shop in front of customers. However,
Michaela is not the same as Charlotte in that wag-tastic way, she just
wants to be naughty.
Do
you think the wags have made any lasting impact on the fashion world?
In a word – no!
LYN
GARDNER
Better Half Mentor
Why
do the girls from your team deserve to win?
Bows started well but only one team has improved throughout the series
and is getting stronger week by week. Therefore that team, Better Half,
should win!
If
you could employ one WAG from Bows/Better Half in your boutique who
it would be and why?
Having spent a week in the shops with the girls I would employ Jadene.
If
you could have fired one WAG throughout the course of the series who
would it have been?
Michaela has acted in an immature, attention seeking and selfish way
throughout with little respect for the public and her colleagues. Every
day she left the shop. Most days she played around in Better Half. All
of which would have led to her dismissal.
Do
you think the wags have made any lasting impact on the fashion world?
In a word no. I think the lasting impression of the Wags is more 'girls
behaving badly' rather than fashion icons. The fashion content was over
shadowed by the sale of charity goods turning the stores more into 'Crest'
of London souvenir shops rather than boutiques.
TV
Previews April '07
