Scottish Fashion Awards: Fish claims awards rigged as daughter doesn’t win

SCOTTISH singer Fish has accused organisers of the Scottish Fashion Awards of treating young stars of the future to an appalling show of “corporate greed” and mismanagement at this week’s ceremony.

He said “staggeringly” bad management backstage left teenage models waiting hours in freezing conditions, with rushed catwalk shows, limited food and drink, and no invitation to the aftershow party at Monday evening’s event in Glasgow.

VIP guests enjoyed a sumptuous banquet and goodie bags worth hundreds of pounds.

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The former frontman of 1980s rock band Marillion, his daughter Tara Nowy was nominated for the Scottish Model of the Year award.

Fish, whose real name is Derek Dick, said his daughter believed that the results had been rigged when fellow singer Annie Lennox’s daughter, Tali, won the accolade instead.

That was flatly denied by awards founder, Tessa Hartmann, who said the event had been a huge success and accused Fish of simply “over-reacting” to his daughter’s failure to win.

In a lengthy criticism posted on The Scotsman’s website beneath an article published yesterday about the ceremony, Fish said: “She (Tara) accepted the outcome in the gracious manner I have come to expect of her and she felt privileged to be nominated.

“No animosity and although she felt the decision preordained she was just happy to be considered.

“What upset me was seeing her so down at the treatment both she and the other models endured during the day.

“Backstage I was told it was chaotic… Hours waiting in freezing air conditioned rooms with hardly anything to eat or drink, no information, a delayed show, confusion with regards arena access and a lacklustre catwalk where she had one outfit before the show closed abruptly and the VIPs emptied out to dinner next door. Staggeringly badly stage managed.”

He added: “It’s all very well and good bringing big names up to present the awards but it seems the young people who are the future of the Scottish fashion industry on an international stage are having their enthusiasm and commitment taken advantage of for the sake of corporate profit.”

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Adding that Tara had agreed to be a “face” doing advertising for the awards unpaid, he said she and the other models deserved better treatment from an industry that depended on them to “carry the flag”.

“These words are my own but I felt tonight I wanted to put my own opinion across as the father of someone who deserved far more from a night she had looked forward to for so very long like so many others out there trying to make a name for themselves in a cold and brutal industry that generates millions for those in control of their fragile dreams.”

Ms Hartmann defended the awards. She said: “It’s beyond disrespectful to suggest that an award was rigged.

“I’m a parent myself. It was a long day and you want your daughter to win. He has over- reacted, like an emotional father, and I think he’ll regret it later.”

She agreed that models waited for many hours, but said that was what the industry entailed.

“They were waiting a long time but you’re doing a live show. You need a stiff back in this industry and if she doesn’t like it she shouldn’t be in it.

“We’ve given these girls an amazing platform. She was modelling couture from Paris.

“We haven’t had any other complaints. I think it’s a classical Scottish thing when you don’t win to throw your toys out of the pram. It’s disappointing for Scotland.”

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