Charleswood’s accidental cover girl

Oak Park student face of the Prairies in magazine modelling contest

Spending a whole day posing for photos isn’t most people’s idea of fun, but for Erin Hampton, 16, it was a blast.

Hampton, a Grade 12 student at Oak Park High School, recently posed for the cover of December’s VerveGirl magazine, a publication available at junior and senior high schools across Canada.

Although a taste of the modelling life has left Hampton wanting more, she said it was never an industry she expected to go into.

In fact, she stumbled onto the VerveGirl contest by accident.

“I was in Wal-Mart with my mom one day, randomly, and we were going to pay for stuff and that’s where the contest was being held,” said Hampton.

“I really had no idea at all.”

Hampton decided to get her photo taken on a whim. Two months later, she was told she was a finalist in the competition.

“I found out they were taking pictures of a bunch of girls in Canada for the competition. I’ve always wanted to do (modelling) when I was younger – I like being photographed, so I thought I’d try it out.

Although the grand prize went to Diana Illy of Ontario, Hampton, after spending a weekend getting photographed and appearing before a panel of celebrity judges in Mississauga, Ont., was chosen as the New Face of Canada for the Prairies and Northwest Territories region.

In addition to the title, Hampton received $500 to be donated to her charity of choice, the Canadian Cancer Society.

The biggest reward may be yet to come, however, when Hampton’s friends and family will see her on the cover of the magazine.

“They’re all very excited,” she said. “Everyone’s been asking me to sign their copies once it comes out.”

VerveGirl magazine’s goal with the New Faces of Canada contest was to find six young girls from across the country who represent “real Canadian beauty.”

“Our panel of judges did not have an easy task selecting the six beautiful winners,” said VerveGirl publisher Kaaren Whitney-Vernon in an announcement about the winners.

“In creating the contest we were confident about the wealth of beauty and talent across Canada.”

Hampton says she’s interested in pursuing a modelling career, perhaps by looking into local agencies.

“If I could get into (the modelling business) I definitely would,” she said. “I had a lot of fun. The photos took a long time, but it was so fun.”