Day 2 of the Australian OIympic Beach Volleyball Legacy - ModernMuse

Today I had an incredible day directing a high fashion shoot for Modern Muse on Day 2 of the Australian Olympic Beach Volleyball philanthropic Legacy for London 2012.

We believe that the UK is suffering from a female role model shortage and that it is vital to motivate the next generation to embrace the "Champion" inside, to live a healthy lifestyle and to carve out fulfilling lives for themselves, so in this spirit Tamsin volunteered for one day to be our ModernMuse.

As one of Australia's most successful beach volleyball players, people forget that Tamsin is more than just a professional athlete. She has a Bachelor in Communiations from Queensland's Griffith University and is a highly intelligent and articulate role model for Women and young girls.

The ModernMuse Olympic Legacy initiative aims to raise enough funds in partnership with Australian and English audiences to continue Coram’s Fields Community Sports Programs and to support London Youth.

This photoshoot was supported by generous local creative London small business owners and Tamsin is now offering a selection of these photographs to London media in return for a “readers fundraising campaign” and/or charitable donation to Coram’s Fields. The images from this fashion shoot are also being sold online via Titomedia.com.au.

Tamsin's view was that “as a mother, I believe that sport can be a powerful social tool to promote child and youth development. I was surprised to learn that 3.6 million children live in poverty in the UK today. That’s 1 in 4 or 27%. By providing opportunities for young people, together we can help them to develop transferable life skills like leadership, perseverance, social and moral character, self-esteem, teamwork and problem-solving. My third Olympic journey was not just about participating in London 2012 as an elite athlete or winning a medal, it was about leaving a lasting legacy in London.”

This fundraising initiative supporting Coram’s Fields, aims to raise 250,000 GBP to fund its free after-school, evening and school holiday sports sessions running in 2013 and to add Volleyball to its program and to replace the ageing Astro Turf pitches. The Sports Development Programme at Coram's Fields engages over 100 young people per day 363 days per year. All the sports sessions are free of charge to young people aged 6-19 years regardless of ability. The Program’s primary objective is to improve young people's lives through sport and to help improve their personal and social development. These are in the form of structured coaching sessions, tournaments/competitions, accredited sports courses, annual sports camps and creating player pathway development programmes whereby young people can start, stay and succeed in sport.

Any additional funds raised will be passed on to London Youth’s “Getting Ready for the Games and Beyond Program” and to support the new Beach Volleyball program being initiated at Samuel Montague Youth Club in Greenwich that will be reusing the sand from Horses Guard Parade. London Youth is a network of 400 community organisations serving 75,000 young people and their families in neighbourhoods across the capital.

Tamsin has never been photographed in anything other than athletic gear throughout her career as a professional athlete and unfortunately as a beach volleyball player, photographs are mostly focused on her body. This was a wonderful opportunity to focus on her beautiful face and her overall look showcasing vintage pieces from Australian designers Craig Braybrook, Jenny Bannister and Justine Davis. It was Tamsin's first time as a fashion model and she was very nervous, but she did a wonderful job on set and was an absolute natural in front of the camera. One of the issues you typically have with models is that they are running late and are difficult to work with. Tamsin arrived on set before everyone else and was a dream to work with. Working with talented local creative’s provided her with a unique opportunity to be inspired personally through fashion and she has now offered to share this inspiration through the development programs for young girls aged 6-18 that we are creating with London Youth.

A big thank you to our stunning fashion model Tamsin Hinchley and to the clever, clever bespoke Milliner Steve Harrison.

A big thank you also for
1) the generosity of Yev and his team at Green Lens Studio;
2) to the brilliance of photographer Caron Westbrook;
3) the patience and dedication of Stylist - Nina Sobers and Assistant Stylist Rajmund Bednorz
4) the divine creativity of Hair Designer, Kaisa Fortuna; and
5) the vision and make up artistry of the talented Jasmine Mathieson.

Their support and contributions to our Australian Olympic Beach Volleyball legacy in London 2012 is sincerely appreciated.