Paula Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Paula Hamilton is an English
model
, best known for her appearance in the classic 1987 Mk II Volkswagen Golf
TV advert "Changes". In 2006, she returned to public recognition as a judge on Living TV's Britain's Next Top Model
, for two cycles.
by her mother and stepfather but moved to Hertfordshire when she was eight years old. She is dyslexic and didn't learn to read and write until she was 11. Paula attended the Licensed Victuallers School in Slough along with Simon Cowell and Nicholas Cowell who both attended for 1 year. She left school at 16. Hamilton has four half-siblings.
of the Queen's couturier Sir Hardy Amies
. Her successful modelling career was, however, hampered by her battles against alcohol and cocaine
. During a tough interview with top Italian photographer Fabrizio Ferrei, Paula was told her hair was too long for the job. She promptly cut her hair, got the job, and went on to learn the tricks of the trade at Ferrei's side.
Hamilton reached the zenith of her modelling career at the age of 27, when she appeared in an iconic 1987 television advert for the Volkswagen Golf. "Changes" starred Hamilton, made up to resemble Diana, Princess of Wales
. She is seen leaving her husband, posting her wedding ring back through the letterbox, ditching her fur coat, and throwing the house keys at the cat - but keeping the car keys. "If only everything in life was as reliable as a Volkswagen" ran the tagline. The advert began a new era in car advertising.
In 1996, Hamilton featured in the music video accompanying hugely successful British boyband Take That
's last single "How Deep Is Your Love
" in the 1990s. The single reached number one on the UK singles chart.
In 2000 she went to New Zealand to study Business.
In 2006, it was announced that Hamilton, at the age of 45, had been re-signed by the leading agency Models 1, who hoped to capitalise on the popularity of more mature models, led by Twiggy
and her successful advertising campaign for Marks & Spencer
.
Hamilton was also a mentor and judge on the second and third series of Britain's Next Top Model
on Living TV, presented by model Lisa Snowdon
. It was revealed in late December 2007 that Hamilton was to be replaced by Icelandic model Huggy Ragnarsson for cycle 4. In addition to modelling, Paula turned her hand to presenting and acting, appearing in feature films Mad Dogs & Englishmen and the Life of a Serial Killer. Hamilton released her autobiography entitled Instructions Not Included in 1996.
Hamilton is now signed to London-based Mandpmodels.
In May 2011 Hamilton starred in the second series of Channel 4s Celebrity Five Go To in which the celebrities visited South Africa.
when she was 16, to whom she lost her virginity.
She went into rehab in her twenties having become addicted to cocaine. She was introduced to the drug by her agent.
She was sober for 7 years before becoming an alcoholic.
Hamilton had a relationship with Army Officer Sebastian Rhodes-Stampa in her twenties. After they broke up, Hamilton attempted suicide trying to hang herself from a chandelier.
She married a cameraman in 1987 but the marriage did not last long. She was later linked to Lord Ashcroft and was once engaged to film-maker Henry Cole.
Hamilton received therapy in 2006 and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder
. It was revealed in 2007 that Hamilton was in fact suffering from dyspraxia
. She has been sober since 2006.
Hamilton recently dated former English cricketer, Ed Giddins
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, best known for her appearance in the classic 1987 Mk II Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is a small family car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada , and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico .The...
TV advert "Changes". In 2006, she returned to public recognition as a judge on Living TV's Britain's Next Top Model
Britain's Next Top Model
Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model is a British reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of Britain's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modelling industry...
, for two cycles.
Early life
Hamilton was brought up in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
by her mother and stepfather but moved to Hertfordshire when she was eight years old. She is dyslexic and didn't learn to read and write until she was 11. Paula attended the Licensed Victuallers School in Slough along with Simon Cowell and Nicholas Cowell who both attended for 1 year. She left school at 16. Hamilton has four half-siblings.
Career
At the age of 17, after several rejections as a model, Paula moved to Tokyo and worked for 18 months. She then established herself in Australia and Germany before moving to Italy. After being discovered by photographer David Bailey, she became the main modelModel (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
of the Queen's couturier Sir Hardy Amies
Hardy Amies
Hardy Amies, Ltd. is a British-based fashion house specialising in modern luxury menswear.-Sir Edwin Hardy Amies:Sir Edwin Hardy Amies, KCVO , was a British fashion designer, best known for his official title as dressmaker for Queen Elizabeth II, from her accession to the throne until his...
. Her successful modelling career was, however, hampered by her battles against alcohol and cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. During a tough interview with top Italian photographer Fabrizio Ferrei, Paula was told her hair was too long for the job. She promptly cut her hair, got the job, and went on to learn the tricks of the trade at Ferrei's side.
Hamilton reached the zenith of her modelling career at the age of 27, when she appeared in an iconic 1987 television advert for the Volkswagen Golf. "Changes" starred Hamilton, made up to resemble Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
. She is seen leaving her husband, posting her wedding ring back through the letterbox, ditching her fur coat, and throwing the house keys at the cat - but keeping the car keys. "If only everything in life was as reliable as a Volkswagen" ran the tagline. The advert began a new era in car advertising.
In 1996, Hamilton featured in the music video accompanying hugely successful British boyband Take That
Take That
Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
's last single "How Deep Is Your Love
How Deep Is Your Love
"How Deep Is Your Love" is a pop song recorded by the Bee Gees in 1977 and released as a single in September. Originally intended for Yvonne Elliman, it was ultimately used as part of the soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever. It was a number three hit in the United Kingdom and Australia...
" in the 1990s. The single reached number one on the UK singles chart.
In 2000 she went to New Zealand to study Business.
In 2006, it was announced that Hamilton, at the age of 45, had been re-signed by the leading agency Models 1, who hoped to capitalise on the popularity of more mature models, led by Twiggy
Twiggy
Lesley Lawson née Hornby known as Twiggy is an English model, actress, and singer. In the early-1960s she became a prominent British teenage model of swinging sixties London with others such as Penelope Tree....
and her successful advertising campaign for Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
.
Hamilton was also a mentor and judge on the second and third series of Britain's Next Top Model
Britain's Next Top Model
Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model is a British reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of Britain's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modelling industry...
on Living TV, presented by model Lisa Snowdon
Lisa Snowdon
Lisa Snowdon is an English fashion model, television personality and presenter. She was the host of the reality television show Britain's Next Top Model from 2006 until 2009...
. It was revealed in late December 2007 that Hamilton was to be replaced by Icelandic model Huggy Ragnarsson for cycle 4. In addition to modelling, Paula turned her hand to presenting and acting, appearing in feature films Mad Dogs & Englishmen and the Life of a Serial Killer. Hamilton released her autobiography entitled Instructions Not Included in 1996.
Hamilton is now signed to London-based Mandpmodels.
In May 2011 Hamilton starred in the second series of Channel 4s Celebrity Five Go To in which the celebrities visited South Africa.
Personal life
Hamilton dated Simon CowellSimon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
when she was 16, to whom she lost her virginity.
She went into rehab in her twenties having become addicted to cocaine. She was introduced to the drug by her agent.
She was sober for 7 years before becoming an alcoholic.
Hamilton had a relationship with Army Officer Sebastian Rhodes-Stampa in her twenties. After they broke up, Hamilton attempted suicide trying to hang herself from a chandelier.
She married a cameraman in 1987 but the marriage did not last long. She was later linked to Lord Ashcroft and was once engaged to film-maker Henry Cole.
Hamilton received therapy in 2006 and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
. It was revealed in 2007 that Hamilton was in fact suffering from dyspraxia
Dyspraxia
Developmental dyspraxia is a motor learning difficulty that can affect planning of movements and co-ordination as a result of brain messages not being accurately transmitted to the body...
. She has been sober since 2006.
Hamilton recently dated former English cricketer, Ed Giddins
Ed Giddins
Edward Simon Hunter Giddins is a former English cricketer who played in four Tests from 1999 to 2000. Giddins played for four counties during his career – Sussex, Warwickshire, Surrey and Hampshire.-New Zealand:...
.