Lopez making a mark modelling – after her win in our competition
FORMER BABY AND TODDLER OF THE YEAR NOW REPRESENTS BRANDS
VICTORY in the Mercury’s Baby and Toddler of the Year competition has inspired a girl to achieve success modelling on Instagram.
Lopez Ramos-Jardine, nine, from Leicester Forest East, won the competition when she was four.
Her mum said she is always getting compliments from friends, family and strangers.
Late last year, mum Claire Jardine entered Lopez into a competition to find models for a clothing brand and she was one of the five winners.
The 45-year-old said: “Everyone who met Lopez asked if she was a model, so I entered her into the competition and she won.
“I had set up an Instagram profile for her in 2018, and at first I used it to show how responsible she was, with cooking and cleaning her room – I wanted to inspire other kids.
“Lopez is always so helpful around the house with cleaning and tidying and loves cooking.”
However, after an interaction with celebrity chef Kwoklyn Wan on Instagram, she was invited to film a Hallowe’en special on his YouTube channel.
Lopez’s online presence began to build and after she became a model for the brand Outside the Lines following her competition win, Claire decided to change the focus of the Instagram account to modelling and fashion.
Lopez now represents brands from the likes of TEN and Little Queens through to Poundstretcher on her social media account, which is run by her mum.
Claire said: “She is gaining followers daily and within the space of less than a year she has nearly 7,000.
“Lopez absolutely loves doing it. If I take a picture of her when we’re out and about, she’s always saying ‘What about this angle? Or what if I do this?.’
“If she ever decided she didn’t want to do it any more, I would stop straight away.” Claire said the reaction from family and friends has been very positive, but is very aware of keeping track of the response online.
She said: “Everyone loves her, and we get very little negativity. There is always going to be someone who is negative - but they get blocked.
am the only one behind it. Lopez doesn’t have an account, she is not allowed.
“I am very careful to sift through the followers and get rid of any dodgy accounts.”
Claire said she and her daughter have met lots of great people through the account through various brand deals and events, and will continue to build Lopez’s account and presence online.
She said: “Lopez has a small part in an upcoming gangster film and we are just going to continue networking.”
Lopez, who also took part in Leicester Fashion Week, goes to act“I ing and singing classes during the week, to help fulfil her dream of becoming an actor.
Claire said: “I am just doing the best for what she wants to do and help how I can.
“I hope she can inspire other children and be a good influence on them.”