John Hanson pupil Saffron Whyton shows off her catwalk chemistry to take national award

Saffron Whyton, 15, showed her catwalk chemistry when she was named winner of the Photographer’s Choice award at last weekend’s Top Model 2019 fashion event.

The ceremony, which took place at London’s Amba Hotel on Saturday, March 23, and Sunday, March 24, featured a panel of experts judge entrants in six categories.

Saffron entered in the editorial category, and while she was not the section’s overall winner she did scoop the award which recognises the most photogenic model of all, as chosen by the event’s photographer.

But Saffron does not see the catwalk as her top priority.

“I always thought I wanted to try this,” she said. “But I always saw it as more of a hobby than a job.

“I want to be a scientist. I’d like to work at Porton Down.”

Saffron has been modelling since the age of 13.

Since then her hobby has taken her to a diverse range of locations, from freezing winter shoots in the New Forest to more glamorous trips to Las Vegas in the USA.

“Once she was on set and she ended up with hypothermia,” said her father Paul Whyton.

The visit to Las Vegas came after she was selected to appear on the cover of FabUK Magazine just two months after getting into modelling.

But despite the experiences she has enjoyed along the way, Saffron says the best thing about her modelling is the confidence it has given her in everyday life.

“I had to do my college interview and without my modelling I would have been too nervous to say anything.”

Paul added: “You have the shyest girl in the world but she wouldn’t think twice about putting on an outfit and walking down a runway in front of 200 people.”

Saffron has another photoshoot booked over Easter, but after that she will be putting the classroom above the catwalk as she prepares for her GCSE exams in May and June.

She will then take up her a place at Queen Mary’s College, in Basingstoke, and in terms of modelling beyond that she’s open to whatever the future may bring.