'Very very nervous' Tiffany awaits the final showdown

It's the big night tonight for aspiring Maltese model Tiffany Pisani, 18, taking part in the sixth series of Britain's Next Top Model reality television programme.

She will contest the final with two Londoners, Alisha White and Joy McLaren.

Speaking to The Times from London yesterday evening, she said she is "very, very nervous".

"I'm trying to keep nerves at bay by focusing on practising to perfection all the work I have to do during the live show, just to make sure I feel confident. But I'm so nervous right now."

The final showdown among the three girls will be broadcast live this evening on Living TV at 10pm (Malta time). Carina Camilleri, models.com.mt director and Tiffany's agent, who is also in London, said that the show will have a limited studio audience of 250. "Tickets are not up for sale and it will be mostly made up of family members and sponsors," she said.

Familiar faces will be cheering Tiffany in the studio this evening - her parents and sister, her boyfriend, and other relatives and friends.

"It really helps that they'll be there, and I really appreciate their taking the time to come and support me, because it makes a whole world of difference to me," said Tiffany.

In the studio audience there will also be the marketing manager and representatives of New Look UK, Tiffany's main sponsor.

The winner will be chosen exclusively through public voting, however viewers in Malta will not be able to cast their vote since voting is limited to viewers in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. According to the BNTM regulations, one can vote up to 500 times from any one telephone number. Voting closes during the live show.

Tiffany, who was eligible to take part because her mother is British, does not think that her Maltese surname makes a difference for the British audience: "There are many foreigners living in the UK. I don't think it I stand less of a chance because I'm only half British."

Ms Camilleri, said: "We are urging everyone to tell friends and relatives who live in the UK and Ireland to vote for Tiffany on phone number 09011 32 42 - 03."

The winner of the vote shall be the contestant who receives the most valid votesand the results of the vote will be announced at the end of tonight's episode on Living.

The regulations state that in the event of a tie between contestants, the final decision shall be made by the panel of ‘Britain's Next Top Model' judges: supermodel Elle Macpherson, fashion designer Julien Macdonald, stylist and creative director Grace Woodward, and top male model Charley Speed.

Tiffany has been in London for the past week, working on photo-shoots as well as promoting the BNTM final through interviews on other shows on different television stations. Yesterday it was a full day rehearsal from 9am to 9pm. Today it will be another early start: "Because tonight's show is going to be live we have to make sure that everything is perfectly timed," she said.

Having made it to the BNTM final is already a huge thing for Tiffany. But is she finding the competition gruelling at this final stage? "Well, I think the closer we're getting to the final, the more nervous Alishia, Joy and I are becoming. Excitement is running high now."

Whatever the outcome it's all going to be taken in good spirit and according to Carina Camilleri, it will definitely be party time at the end of the show. "After the show, we're all heading to the ‘After Party'. Access is limited, but I'm hoping that I can make friends with the bouncer to try and squeeze in a few more of us so we all party with Tiffany," she said.

See interview with Tiffany on

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100921/local/malta-s-modelling-epiphany-in-britain-s-next-top-model-final