Art of surviving life in fast lane as Miss V8 is modelling world’s equal of rocket science

DON’T be fooled by their megawatt smiles and great grooming — the art of surviving life in the fast lane as a Miss V8 Supercars entrant is tough.

V8's

DON’T be fooled by their megawatt smiles and impeccable grooming — the art of surviving life in the fast lane as a Miss V8 Supercars entrant has become so involved, it’s the glamour modelling world’s equivalent of rocket science.

Two of the infamous glamour modelling contest’s favourite former entrants, Brook Evers and Emily Scott, returned to the race precinct yesterday as stars in their own right.

Now globetrotting DJs, former Palm Beach Currumbin High School students and former Miss Indy finalists Evers (2003) and Scott (2002) have returned to the Surfers Paradise track to pump up the party as featured entertainers at Club 600.

ALL THE ACTION FROM THE GOLD COAST 600

WEEKEND SET TO BE A ROARING SUCCESS

Scott’s set followed a swimwear parade by entrants in this year’s Miss V8 Supercars — the latest in a long list of motor race pageants that have provided a launching pad for a swathe of glamour models — from Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins, the most famous second placegetter in Miss Indy history in 2002, to A List Aussie cricket wag and 1999 Miss Indy winner Kyly Clarke, nee Boldy.

However, long gone are the days when entering the quest was as easy as a spray tan and a crash course in walking in high heels.

This year’s Miss V8 finalists.

From a special “grid girl” diet to ensure they have enough fuel in their tanks to survive their gruelling round of promotional commitments to hours of research to familiarise themselves with and understand the products/services/activities of the Gold Coast 600’s 40 or more sponsors, the Miss V8 Supercars event is the glamour modelling world’s equivalent of rocket science.

Social media has also required a new set of skills, with the girls required to understand the dos and don’ts that go with posting on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The one thing that hasn’t changed — from Miss V8 and Miss Indy to Grid Girls and Pit Lane lovelies — is that motorsport models are as essential to the Gold Coast race as petrol. Look no further than the large crowd of men (and boys in blue) who turned out to see the girls’ swimwear parade in the Club 600 party precinct yesterday afternoon for proof.

Miss V8 Supercar entrants Brianna Abdoo 22, Racquel Andrews 22, and Emma Keegan 19 get to their duties at the track yesterday. Picture: Glenn Hampson

For the girls, making the finals means a huge week of long days (from 4am to 11pm) as they race from breakfasts, lunches and dinners to bikini and sportswear parades, interviews and photo ops, meets and greets — the demands of motorsport modelling have undergone as many modifications as the V8 Supercars the girls promote.

Of course, the girls’ preparations include the usual beauty routine staples — hair, make-up, brows and lashes, nails, waxings and spray tans — you name it, Miss V8s Supercars team of stylists have it covered.

Held from February to October each year, the quest, the official Australia/New Zealand Miss V8 Supercars Sports Model search program, affords girls the chance to experience their local V8 Supercars events — from Clipsal 500 to Townsville 500, Tasmania 400, 500 Auckland, Sandown and Bathurst. However, it’s the Gold Coast that hosts the highlight of the Miss V8 Supercars calendar — the crowning of Miss V8 Supercars 2014.

Selina Macdonald, from event organisers Procon Leisure, said there was a very good reason the Miss V8 Supercars event was the region’s largest glamour model search.

“It’s seen around the world as one of the best sports model competitions,” she said.

“The reason it attracts up to 900 entrants around the country is that the girls are treated so well.

“They get to star in Mercure Resort and are looked after by hairdressers and make artists.

“The way the girls are looked after is second to none and it really is a great launching platform for the next big thing.”

Miss V8 Supercar entrants party at the track yesterday. Picture: Glenn Hampson

This year’s Miss V8 Supercars will be crowned trackside at Club 600 tomorrow at 5pm.