BB'S AISLEYNE GETS A MAKE-UNDER

Model and former Big Brother contestant Aisleyne Horgan Wallace, 30, lives in London. She has her own clothing label, Unique By Aisleyne, and a biography out in the spring.

By Katie Reedman

I've always thought I needed lots of make-up to look pretty. I started to wear foundation when I was about 13 to cover my spots and I would get up an hour early to put it on before school. Mascara was another revelation. I've got blonde lashes so it made a dramatic difference, but I used to wear a lot of glitter too so I looked like a Christmas decoration.

I tried smoky eye shadow too but then I looked like I'd been down a coal mine so I dropped that one. My mum used to tell me I didn't need any of it but she was a punk so couldn't really lecture me. As I grew up, make-up became a way to better myself. By 16, I'd left home and was living in a hostel so I glammed myself up to get work as a model.

I was allowed to take cosmetics into the Big Brother house but vowed I'd show the world I wasn't a make-up obsessed bimbo so I only wore it for parties and evictions. I regretted that when I saw the footage! Seeing myself bare-faced on screen made me wear even more when I got out and I even had my eyebrows tattooed on afterwards.

 

 

I guess that's why I felt a bit naked when I saw myself with a more natural look for Snog, Marry, Avoid? I'd got so used to false eyelashes and bronzer, it felt really strange to be without.

But that night when I went out I got so much more attention than normal from men. It was amazing. Now, I've realised they were intimidated by the glam look I used to have. It made me seem unapproachable and they made assumptions about me, thinking I was a tart. I've now really toned down the make-up. At a recent celebrity party, I just wore foundation, mascara and red lipgloss, and everyone said I looked stunning. It was such a buzz.

Also, I've decided to give my hair a rest and not have extensions for a couple of months. I've been wearing those for ages now and it costs £700 a time. I'm going to save a fortune by not wearing false eyelashes and eye make-up too.

But I am still going to go for regular facials, and I take vitamins and Evening Primrose Oil. I'm never going to be Pamela Anderson but I'm making the most of what I have got."

 

PHOTOGRAPHY: LANCTON HAIR: JONNY ENSTROM AT GUY KREMER WINCHESTER USING RACOON HAIR EXTENSIONS MAKE-UP: CAROLINE PIASECKI USING BENEFIT KATIE REEDMAN RUNS WORKSHOPS TO TEACH WOMEN HOW TO GET MAKE-UP RIGHT. VISIT SLAP.UK.COM FOR DETAILS