SISTERS Ruth and Grace Harkin are the Face of Stratford.
The pair were chosen following a six month search which culminated at the recent first ever Showcase Stratford.
More than 200 people attended the event at Stratford ArtsHouse, which was the brainchild of Gorgeous Obsession’s Rachel Ngombe and New Idle’s Libby Simpson, with several other businesses also involved.
They were voted winners of the competition by the audience on the night, which included an evening of entertainment showcasing some of Stratford’s independent businesses.
The sisters, aged 17 and 18, walked away with a prize package including a celebrity-style photoshoot and treats from Stratford’s independent businesses.
They will also front the campaign for Gorgeous Obsession’s Gorgeous Tempest makeup collection – inspired by characters from Shakespeare’s The Tempest – for a year.
Ruth, who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, said: “I’ve got a strong message I want to spread about young people and mental health, so this gives me a great platform to do it, but I would never have had the confidence to do it alone. Entering with my sister gave me that confidence.
“The whole evening was such a buzz, we both felt like mini celebrities for the night.
“We’re so proud to be from Stratford, and to be representing the youth of today in this. And the fact that we’ve won the very first Face of Stratford in a year that falls into the 400th Anniversary Year makes it even more historic.”
