She's so photogenic

SHE is hoping to pursue a career in modelling - but 14-year-old Samantha Davidson says that her priority is working hard at school so that she can go to university.

Samantha is a cousin of Scottish supermodel Kirsty Hume, who also started modelling at the same age, and as our photos show, photogenic genes clearly run in the family!

The teenager has already been signed by Scottish agency The Look who have taken some striking '60s-inspired test shots.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And speaking from her Cumbernauld home Samantha says that Kirsty (33) is delighted to hear that she is following in her footsteps.

Kirsty, who is originally from Ayr but now lives in the States, has appeared on the cover of Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, and Allure as well as modelling for Ralph Lauren, Valentino, Gucci, Armani and Louis Vuitton.

So she is highly qualified to pass on some words of wisdom as she has been doing - including the importance of keeping in touch with your roots.

Friendly Samantha said that the advice has been really useful.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Kirsty's a really down to earth person - she said she got a bit carried away with modelling at first but has still managed to keep in touch with her home and her family."

Samantha was even a flower girl at Kirsty's Scottish wedding to Donovan Leitch - son of Sixties folk singer Donovan - where she remembers feeding the ducks at the pond.

And she can say she has already had her photo taken by legendary photographer Patrick Demarchelier - who discovered Kirsty - as he was the wedding photographer.

Samantha explains that she now gets to visit her famous relative at her LA home - and the pair have been shopping on Rodeo Drive and Robertson Boulevard. She is becoming increasingly interested in fashion - with Kirsty letting her keep some top-brand make-up freebies, and Samantha is a big fan of TV show The Hills and fashion magazine Teen Vogue which features in the series.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Aside from Kirsty, which other models does she admire? "I like Lily Cole, who is studying at Cambridge, and Emma Watson - they've both managed to combine modelling with going to university."

Samantha, who has a younger sister Melissa (12), would like to do the same - and aims to study dentistry at university, saying: "I really like science, especially chemistry."

And proving her aptitude for the subject, she has even been selected to compete in Top of the Bench, a national competition run by the Royal Society of Chemistry for 14 to 16-year-old students. Her hard work clearly doesn't end there, as she also takes part in plenty of extra-curricular activities like playing the flute, taking part in the Combined Cadet Force and she is also studying for her Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award which has included voluntary work in a nursery which she has enjoyed.

And how have people reacted to her entering the modelling world?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I was really nervous but everyone's been really nice - my family has been really supportive and my friends have been really positive about it."

She clearly has her priorities right - as she intends to fit her modelling around her studies - and this is supported by her mum Diane.

"Just now my focus is my schoolwork and keeping my marks up."

So all the best Samantha!