We are pleased to introduce you to our new Bridges Ambassadors!
Andrea Kemp, Louise Bennett and Emma Hutcheon were among hundreds who applied for the chance to become ambassadors and star in our Mother’s Day media campaign.
Once we had declared them the winners, they were whisked off by a glam squad of stylists, make up artists and hair experts for a full makeover and given a £100 Sunderland Gift Card each.
Now, not only are they our official Bridges’ Ambassadors, but videos and photographs of their special day will be used to promote the centre on social media in the run up to Mother’s Day on Sunday 10 March.
They will also be invited back for future campaigns in both the summer and in the weeks before Christmas.
The aim of the competition was to find three mums across different age groups and 36-year-old bank worker Louise, from Easington Lane – who is mum to a five-year-old daughter and 17-year-old stepson – actually nominated her mum as well as herself.
“I never thought I would hear back,” she said, “but it’s been a rough couple of years health wise and the thought of being pampered and styled for the day just sounded like a little bit of heaven and a break from the norm.”
And she said her day of hair, beauty and fashion pampering had been “fantastic. The other mums; Emma and Andrea – a 52-year-old carer for her 25-year-old son – were so lovely and deserving, too.
“We were each other’s cheerleaders during the style reveals and couldn’t get over how amazing each other looked,” she said. “We laughed non-stop from start to finish.”
“It will be a little weird seeing myself around the shopping centre I frequent the most,” she said, “but I am excited to see the final results.”
For Emma Hutcheon, 31, who juggles caring for two-year-old Rosalie and one-year-old Ellis with part time work as a Neighbourhood Coordinator at Gentoo, winning the competition was “a lovely opportunity to take some time for myself and remember what it feels like to look and dress well.”
“Normally it’s mam bun, hoody and leggings and no time for make-up,” she said, “so I really enjoyed adult conversation, being pampered, having a one-to-one discussion about what clothes would suit me and being able to treat myself to most of the clothes at the end. Being there with like-minded mams was lovely and I met some incredible people,” she said.
“My family knows how embarrassed I can get so are already finding it funny that my face will be all over Sunderland. But if I look as good as I felt doing it then I will be happy,” she said.
Her words were echoed by Andrea, from Southwick, who was nominated to take part by her daughter.
“It was so nice to get out and get my hair and make up done and get styled,” she said.
“We all had a wonderful day and everyone was so kind and looked after us. I’m a bit nervous but can’t wait to see the finished pictures.”
Karen Eve, Centre Director at the Bridges, said the trio were set to be “fantastic ambassadors for us. They are vibrant, capable women with a great sense of fun,” she said, “and I think our customers will absolutely relate to them.”
