A PHOTOGRAPHER has knocked Pixie Geldof out of the picture to become the new face of a designer swimwear range after deciding to try her luck in front of the camera.
Fiona Kennedy, 21, caught the eye of designer Henry Holland after she entered a competition to have her face included in a one-off print design to be used on a handbag and scarf in the fashion-guru's Autumn H! range.
The High Wycombe-raised budding-songstress is now fronting Holland's high-summer swimwear campaign.
She will take over the role from the daughter of Irish singer and political activist Bob Geldof – much to her own disbelief.
She said: "I was taken aback when I got the call - I couldn't believe it. I entered a competition to have my face included in a collage design and I am now fronting his summer campaign.
"I’ve never done anything like this before. I'm only 5ft 4" and have no previous modelling experience.
"I'm in amongst real models, I feel like I shouldn't be there but it's fun."
The ex-Newlands Girls' School pupil is used to being behind the camera but jumped at the chance to model for the brand after over-coming her modelling stage fright.
She said: "The idea of modelling swimwear was quite daunting but I had to block out my nerves and just go for it – which is what I did.”
Designer Henry Holland said: "Fiona caught my eye immediately with her entry for our original 'find a face' competition.
“She looks lively, happy and fun so I thought she’d be the perfect girl to represent the new H! swim range.”
Sasha Nagalingam, from Debenhams which will be selling the collection, said: “At 5'4" Fiona might not meet traditional criteria for a professional model, but she is beautiful, a natural on set and has a great personality.
“Looking at the images she produced, you wouldn’t think for a moment Fiona had never set foot in front of a camera.”
Fiona, who had her photography talents featured on the BBC website when she was 19-years-old, is now focusing on breaking into the music industry.
But says that if the opportunity to model came up again, 'she would definitely consider it'.
Visit http://www.myspace.com/femariakennedy to listen to Fiona's music.
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