Mum Whose Face Was Smashed In Bus Accident Wins Modelling Contract - On Same Day As Daughter

Mum Whose Face Was Smashed In Bus Accident Wins Modelling Contract - On Same Day As Daughter
GUZELIAN

A mum who had her skull smashed to pieces after being hit by a bus has landed a modelling contract – on the same day as her daughter.

Three years ago, Jane Lowe, from Sheffield, was thrown 40 feet into the air and landed on the side of her head in the horrific accident.

Doctors feared she wouldn't survive, and she had to have a titanium plate fitted into the right hand side of her face.

Jane, 47, recalled: "It was a single decker bus which knocked me down. It was a matter of seconds and I had the phone to my ear but I don't remember anything else. The next thing I knew I was in hospital, and everything hurt."

GUZELIAN

During the accident, Jane's front tooth punctured her lip and the bone in the whole left side of her face was smashed into thousands of tiny fragments. She was also left with a fractured pelvis and cheekbones, yet she suffered no internal injuries.

She said: "I looked like I'd had a stroke, and they had to completely rebuild the side of my face.

"Afterwards I couldn't dress myself or bend at all and I had to have a wheelchair for the first few weeks.

"The work they did on my face is incredible. Even if you look at me close up, you can't tell what I went through."

The accident happened during a period of terrible heartbreak for Jane's family.

They had endured a close family bereavement and Jane discovered husband Steve had throat cancer, causing nearly five years of misery for the family.

But their fortunes changed after Jane and daughter Kristy, 20, were both signed by modelling agency DK Model Management last month.

After competing in the Miss South Yorkshire contest, Kristy, an interior design student at Northumbria University, scooped the award on February 14 at the Hilton hotel in Sheffield, cheered on by her mum, dad and sister Samantha, 17.

Kristy was then approached by DK Model Management, who offered her a modelling contract, despite having already unknowingly approached Jane earlier in the evening.

Jane said: "We couldn't believe it when we realised we had both been asked. They had no idea we were related, I'd just been there to support Kristy.

"I'd never imagined doing anything like that before. They were looking for more mature models, and they asked me if I was interested.

"I've done shoots wearing office wear, casual, dressed up and gym wear, and there's a chance Kristy and I could end up doing something together."

Kristy has automatically secured herself a place in the Miss England contest in June, as well as looking forward to a part-time modelling career.

She said: " The whole thing has been a massive confidence booster for me, and I've really enjoyed it. I'm really looking forward to doing some modeling as I think it's going to be a lot of fun."

DK Model Management is a commercial agency, which specialises in providing models of all ages for magazine and TV adverts, and promotes products rather than fashion.

Managing director Kathy Holdsworth said: "I actually saw Jane before I saw Kristy because she was there on the evening of the Miss South Yorkshire final.

"She is very slim and attractive and she had a lovely dress on.

"I was one of the judges and the minute I saw Kristy I knew I wanted her to win, but you just don't know what the others are thinking. I was delighted when she was announced as the winner.

"It was only when I saw Kristy with her parents that I realised they were related. The whole family are such delightful people and this could not have happened to a nicer family.

"I couldn't believe that half of Jane's face was made of titanium. It was hard to even see the tiny scars, the surgeon must have had incredible skill.

"When Kristy's father told us of the terrible time the family have had, where they have suffered three blows in a row, I was so delighted that following all of this, the family now had a great reason to celebrate, and I had gained two lovely new models."

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