Snap “Finds his Feet” in Fashion at the Diana Awards

Livestock sent Snap to a very different kind of creative event last week involving fashion, singers, philanthropists and some very inspiring young people.

Snap finding himself in the luxurious realm of cupcake world.

At Jolouse nightclub, Mayfair, Snap found himself at the second annual “Finding your feet” Fashion show organised by Jane Larbi. The event was supporting the incredible work of the Diana Awards, a charity set up in 1999 in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales.

After a short bit of conversing with some of the arriving guests outside, Snap was soon inside the club and mingling with the crowds of philanthropic guests, models, fashion students, and oh yes, Sinitta, 80’s pop icon and Simon Cowell’s right hand woman, Ambassador of the Diana Awards.

Sinitta and her nice cleavage!(photo not taken at awards!)

It didn’t take long before Snap had tracked down Maggie Turner, CEO of the Diana Awards to find out more about the evening’s entertainment what the Diana Awards were all about?

Maggie Turner CEO of Diana Awards meets Snap over a nice glass of Chardonnay.

Snap discovered that the Diana Awards are all about celebrating the amazing achievements of inspirational young people who defy expectation and challenge the negative stereotypes that are so often associated with them. Gaining an award will represent the beginning of a lasting relationship with the charity, which Maggie says is like a family. Once an award has been achieved, the individual is supported by the charity in fulfilling their true potential for themselves and their communities through the charities alumni programme.

Snap was unable to hold Maggie’s attention for too long, before she was snapped! (bad joke ed.) away to more important tasks of announcing on stage the live charity auction. Main prize of the auction was a private mentoring session with Diana Award Ambassador Sinitta. Sinitta did well to sell her auction prize by offering anything from singing lessons, to guiding a best mans speech to more lucrative exploits of mentoring someone for the X factor! The auction livened up considerably with wealthy Dads and Mums competing for the X factor tutoring session for their kids. Or were they seriously considering it for themselves?!

During the evening Snap was fortunate enough to meet one such award holder, Dionne Campbell. She blew Snap away when she told her story of becoming one of the very early Diana Award winners 10 years ago. Dionne was enormously proud of her award, which she won for her work in helping people who had been sexually abused. She now works as Senior Commissioning Officer for Camden Council, working in sexual health for young people. Snap finally grasped the importance and value of such awards, when meeting people like Dionne, who 10 years on is still very much a part of the family, and has clearly become successful in her role within her community and beyond.

Dionne with Snap and an intriguing meeting with another gingerbread man owned by Dionne. As it turned out, the 2 G-men were related - long distant related cousins no less!

At last, the main focus of the evening’s entertainment was announced. The ‘Finding your Feet’ Fashion show began. Finding your Feet (FYF) is a project conceived by Jane Larbi, a Diana Award holder from 2008. The focus behind FYF is to promote young, talented designers, and provide exposure for their designs by holding fashion shows giving them opportunities and experiences to show their collections alongside fashion heavyweights. At this year’s FYF Fashion show, Nicole Farhi, the thriving fashion business was offering one candidate the opportunity for a 3-month work placement in their press and marketing department. Livestock also really values the experiences and skills that can be offered to internships and regularly holds intern programmes.

Jane Larbi, founder of FYF and organiser of this years fashion show at Jalouse nightclub, Mayfair.

Rather sulky model wearing designs from Kalin Blajeva - young womenwears designer based in London, fashion graduate from Kingston University.

Rather saucy model, making a splash for the cameras wears designs by Sophia Anastasiou, fashion graduate from Central Saint Martins.

During the fashion show a number of live musicians sang and played alongside the catwalk. Snap managed to get a quick interview from Sharon Rose, up and coming R&B, Funk singer from Essex. Snap said he had a lovely chat with Sharon to find out more about her musical career. Sharon said she was not currently under management and not yet signed. Snap couldn’t believe why no record company hadn’t approached Sharon yet and strongly suggested she find a good manager to represent her.

Sharon and good friend with Snap, looking happy

Soon after his advisory talk with Sharon, Snap went back to mingling with the crowd and after an attempt to give Sinitta a quick snog (Snap got sent out of the VIP area very quickly after that), the fashion catwalk finished and the party music began. Most of the guests went on their way leaving the fashion students, models and those that didn’t have to get up early for work the next day dancing on the catwalk. Snap was about to have a quick boogie with some delightful Russian model, when he was whisked off by World Fashion TV for a rapid interview in the men’s toilets? It must have been the celebrity attention he was drawing earlier that night that gave it all away! Better luck next time Snap!

A very successful evening, with lots of lovely, REAL people, opened Snaps eyes to the world of altruistic merits. Livestock really loves to support and engage in such philanthropic events and hopes to be able to support the Diana Award scheme again.

The Diana Awards was established in 1999 to act as a lasting legacy to Diana Princess of Wales’ belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better. The Diana Awards has 3 award schemes: The Diana Award for exceptional individuals, The Diana anti bullying Award and the Diana certificate of Excellence for inspirational groups. For more information about the Award schemes go to http://diana-award.org.uk/