SY MODELS managing director Sarah Young knows how it feels to be a Faces of Barnsley finalist - she finished in the top six of the very first.

Sarah, 27, said it was that experience in 2003 which inspired her to set up her own modelling agency. "That was the reason I got into it all," said Sarah.

"I entered the competition, didn't win but from there it made me realise it was something I wanted to do."

After leaving college, Sarah worked in sales and marketing but she didn't stop getting in touch with photographers, studios, modelling agencies and attending castings.

She did part-time modelling outside of work but if it was a big job she would take time off as holiday. At 5'2", Sarah's not built for the catwalk but she's perfect for commercial work and did a range of jobs including television ads, in-store demonstrations and online promotions.

While on the hunt for work, she found there wasn't a local modelling agency to help her and offer advice on what the good jobs were and how to look out for scams.

After a lot of research and help from Barnsley Business Link, she left her sales and marketing job and worked full-time setting up her own business.

"Before I set the company up in July I was planning it for a year, looking at competition and what business I could get," said Sarah, of Lingard Court.

Seven months later, the business has gone from strength to strength and she now has a range of local talent on her books.

Sarah provides models for all sorts of shoots and events. In September last year she sent some girls to promote Blackberry phones at the U2 gig at Sheffield Arena and they ended up on stage with Bono.

This year she's sending models to a casting in Hamburg, Germany, and she's ready to welcome the winners of Faces of Barnsley onto her books when they are announced in April.

To enter this year's contest find a good, clear, recent photograph of yourself and send it with the entry form to John Barton, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, S70 2AS. By sending a picture you express consent for it to be published.

E-mail entries will also be accepted and should be sent to newssales@barnsley-chronicle.co.uk.