Contest sees teen's fashion dreams come true

Being handed $300 to spend on clothes and accessories would be a dream come true for most teenage girls.
And Hope McConnell will get to live that dream for the next four months, as she competes in a "style-off" to be New Zealand's Young Fashion Stylist.
The 13-year-old was chosen as one of four national finalists and will put together an outfit each month using clothes from Bayfair Shopping Centre.
She'll have $300 each month to spend on putting together a look - and she gets to keep the clothes.
The Tauranga Girls' College student was shocked and delighted to find out she'd been chosen.
"I was so excited when they called - me and Mum screamed for 10 minutes straight.
"It's pretty awesome. Wouldn't it be every girl's dream to be able to spend $300 on whatever they want? It's so much fun to be able to buy things you really love."
Hope, whose favourite shops are Glassons and Wild Pair, beat more than 300 aspiring fashionistas aged 13 to 17.
Each contestant sent in a drawing or clothing montage of their favourite summer look.
And Hope's "rustic glamour" montage, featuring denim shorts, straw hats and gladiator sandals, impressed the judges.
The Year 9 student hopes the competition will help her kick-start a career in fashion.
She became interested in fashion at age 10 and loves designing clothes but feels her biggest strength is styling.
"I think I'm quite good at putting together outfits.
"My mum always brings home fashion magazines, I get my inspiration from that and what the celebrities are wearing. And just all the latest styles from the runaway."
Hope and the other finalists will create four looks, including a favourite summer look, casual look, autumn look and an ultimate ball look. The outfits will be posted on the Girlfriend website each month for public voting and the style-savvy winner will be announced in April.
The grand prize includes a 12-month subscription to Girlfriend, a professional make-up kit featuring a full range of Maybelline New York products valued at $400, and a full-page feature in the April issue of Girlfriend.
To vote for Hope email nzgf@nzgirlfriend.co.nz with "Hope" in the subject line (only one vote per email address per month).