Episode 3 Young, Welsh and Pretty Skint

South Wales has more gyms, tanning salons

and beauty parlours per square mile than anywhere else in Britain.

It's a recession-busting industry grossing

an estimated two billion a year.

If you're good looking, you get a better life.

And it's fuelled by the wants and desires of a generation.

-You can be a celebrity!

-I can be a celebrity!

-You can be whoever you want to be!

-I can be whoever I want to be!

I think it's part of our culture.

For the Welsh under 30s, how you look is who you are.

Hair, beauty, money, fitness, health.

It's all a part of living.

But beauty doesn't come cheap.

You're looking at around £6,000 or £7,000 just on bikinis.

Don't tell anybody, I spent like two grand in the last

-two-and-a-half weeks.

-What? On what?!

So, in these tight economic times, what drives the muscled men,

the tattooed girls...

Do you like it?

..and the imaged-obsessed gym bunnies to push their bodies

and their bank balances to the brink...

..leaving them all feeling Young, Welsh And Pretty Skint?

London. 7am on a cold winter's day

and, in a city-centre hotel room,

24-year-old Llanelli girl Caitlin Silcox

is having her hair and make-up done

whilst tucking into her second glass of wine of the morning.

It's not the best of fun

because I had to have some wine last evening as well,

so you wake up with a little bit of a fuzzy head.

Despite the risk of being half cut, tonight Caitlin is

competing in the European fitness, fashion and modelling competition

at the O2 Arena and the booze is a key part of her final preparations.

The wine and the gin is just to flush the water out of your system.

Draining all the extraneous liquid from her body will leave

Caitlin as ripped and lean as possible for tonight's competition.

Although, being tipsy at breakfast is the least of what

Caitlin's been putting her body through to get to this point.

Over the past few weeks, Caitlin has exercised three times a day

every day and eaten like a wheat-intolerant rabbit,

got kitted up like a Tina Turner ninja gladiator

and undergone spray tans, Botox and lip fillers.

The end result, an amazing catwalk-quality body but, underneath

the glistening exterior, it's a regime that can cause problems.

Your body composition changes, your weight drops.

It's to get, obviously, the ultimate look but it really

affects your hormones, especially as a female.

It can be things like your menstrual cycle completely stops

and it's just like your body fat's that low,

your oestrogen levels drop.

Your testosterone levels raise naturally.

I'm lucky enough that usually, after competition, they bounce back.

Some people aren't so lucky.

I know other people within the industry who don't have

periods all year round. Yeah, it's hard.

So, having put herself through all this physical, mental

and financial strain, how's she feeling on the big day?

The word "anxious" is more kind of there than "nervous".

I love being on stage, obviously,

otherwise I wouldn't do it and I've done it so many times now,

but it's probably one of the biggest shows that I've been in, actually.

I think there was over 300 competitors there last night

for registration.

But, yeah, ideally I'd like to be walking away with

a trophy, but we will see.

And we'll be back with Caitlin later to see how she does.

Meanwhile, welcome to Port Tennant in the Swansea suburbs,

home of Floyds Hairdressing salon

and place of work for the arresting Matthew Roberts.

20-year-old trainee hairdresser by day, performance artiste by night.

Matthew is also the proud owner of a glorious

-and gravity-defying barnet.

-It's just like a rock, it don't move.

So people like poke it down because it doesn't go down.

-It just bounces back, just normal. So I like it.

-And the secret?

Ozone-depleting amounts of hairspray.

And in the car. I'm spraying in the car as I'm driving, like, quickly.

I get at the lights and everyone's like, "What the hell is he doing?"

Matthew gets through hundreds of pounds worth each year but,

luckily for him, the salon is owned by his doting

Auntie Mary, who lets him have it all for free.

That, and all the washes, blow-dries,

hair extensions and hair dyes, all applied so liberally and for

so long, that Matthew's natural hair colour is a dim and distant memory.

I say that I'm a chocolaty...

like a caramely colour. I think, think.

I don't know.

And to top off the hair, there's the nails, the facials,

the eyebrows, the fake tans, the make-up.

How does he afford it all on his trainee-hairdresser salary?

Well, on top of Auntie Mary's moolah,

only child Matthew's got a second funding stream - his mum.

I can't say no to him. Can't say no to him.

Have you seen those eyes? I can't say no. I can't say no to him.

Amongst the many things Mum can't say no to

is Matthew's perfume collection.

I've got my Lady Gaga's, me Chanel, which is running out.

You've got your Armani, you've got your Versace, Vera Wang.

Once I come out the bath or the shower,

I've got to spray myself with at least one of these...

to smell good. Then I'll just lie in bed to dry.

These have got to be at least 400, or less maybe.

I don't know, I'm not good with money.

I just buy, I don't really count.

Matthew thinks on a Friday or a Saturday, when he gets his pay,

that's it, you can go to McDonald's, Domino's

and that's his pay gone, everything else is Mummy and Auntie Mary.

And we have my faves, my Louis Vuittons.

I've got one of these ones and I've got my overnight bags,

which I've got two of.

Contour make-up, this, that and the other, holidays.

And then my ultimate favourite is my Chanel ring.

The insurance, tax for his car.

New car at the moment he's asking for.

And, on top of life's daily essentials, there's

Matthew's distinctive stage wear.

These wings cost £900, which is a killer

but, obviously, when you work so much then, doing shows,

they make you money.

The wings form an integral part of Matthew's stage persona,

a look that has begun to get him regular gigs as a singer.

So what's it like being the only big-hit angel in his

home village of Pentre Dwr?

Crap.

Erm, living in such a small village growing up as a teenager was

rubbish. Everyone judges you, everyone makes comments at you.

It was whilst Matthew watched Lady Gaga perform in London that he

was inspired to don his angel wings and immediately something clicked.

I thought, "Oh, my God, this is cool.

"Walk through London with these wings on,

"everyone stopping for photos."

Over the years, obviously, being bullied and all that stuff,

I kind of had to put this wall up to make sure I won't get hurt again, so

when I kind of made this angel look up,

it's brought its own person with it.

It's taken over kind of way.

I'm not this shy person that would walk the streets with his head down

and not say anything. So if someone does put a camera in my face

or kind of says abuse at me, they can have it back in their face.

And later we'll get to sample Matthew's angelic attitude

when he does a turn at a local charity bash.

Meanwhile...

Previously on Young, Welsh And Pretty Skint,

we caught up with Marc and Corey, two body-beautiful party boys

who are now trying to get some substance in their lives.

I just want to try and achieve something now.

Going out all the time doesn't really get you anywhere, does it?

They've hooked up with Mark Paul Jones,

Llanelli's number one premier talent agent,

who believes he can turn them into the next Ant and Dec.

-You cool with that?

-Yeah, definitely.

-Yeah, definitely cool with that.

So far, it's been all about preparing

the ground for their assault on celebrity.

You want to look at the camera like you want her.

Photoshoots to get together a professional portfolio...

You have to, like, pose with each other.

..modelling classes, and confidence training.

I'm going to be me because I am the effing best.

Now it's time to put that training into practice.

Agent Mark has pulled out all the stops and got them

a gig with a local online TV channel.

They're going to be interviewing former EastEnders star

Carol Harrison, who's in town to promote her new musical.

Last night, the boys spent five hours on the phone with agent

Mark, coming up with questions

and honing their presenter technique ready for this moment.

So, are we about to see the new Ant and Dec

or the next Jedward?

Hi, Carol, it's lovely to meet you today.

First of all, we'll introduce ourselves.

My name is Marc and this is Corey.

Hello, Marc. Hello, Corey.

I want to thank you, first of all, for coming all this way

down to have this chat with us.

It's my pleasure.

Erm, yeah, so, let's get the ball rolling.

I'm sure... Well, myself and Marc are definitely interested,

and everyone at home.

We want to know what inspired you to write this musical.

OK... So it's not the most dynamic of starts.

Bit flat, bit floppy, bit trippy.

But credit to the boys, they soon get into the groove.

-42 years now I've been in the business.

-Is it?

-42 years?!

-Yeah.

Ooh, not that old, are you?!

-SHE LAUGHS

-Surely not that old?

They charm, relax and listen.

-And then, he hung him out of the window.

-Did he?

They forget the mechanics of their prompt cards

and have a natural conversation.

Touching on what I said earlier, this is a bit more for me

and Marc now than the people at home. Well, it's for anyone, really.

We are trying to get a bit of success in the industry ourselves.

-Yeah.

-I'm just wondering if you've got any tips for me and Marc?

-I...

See, to me, I didn't think about being famous.

-No?

-My aim was to be a really good actress and I find it really

-difficult these days, that people say, "I want to be famous."

-Mm-hm.

-And you think, "Well, what do you want to be famous for?"

-Yeah.

And, in fact, all they want to do is be famous.

-So I think, really, it's about passion.

-Yeah.

-I don't think it's about the fame.

-Not at all.

-That's what Mark said.

-He said you don't want to be famous.

-No.

-You want to be successful.

-And then, fame maybe comes with success.

-Yeah.

And on they chat and, after a mere hour chewing the fat

on fame, musicals and soap opera superstardom,

the boys have transformed into fully-fledged luvvies.

-It's been lovely meeting you.

-Yeah.

I'm really grateful you've come down to see us as well.

And I think there's only one way to wrap this up now,

-with a group hug.

-Yeah.

-Oh, group hug?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, lovely!

-She wasn't expecting that.

-Lovely.

-Lovely to meet you.

Phew!

'Yeah, the interview went good.'

You know, I've thrown them in the deep end.

It's their first interview.

'To throw them in with someone like Carol, you've got to learn to swim.'

And, fair dos to the boys, they... You know, they have pulled it off.

'You know, there's a dream there, I picture them,'

where they will have the exclusivity for big events, with A-listers

in the world, and I will push for that and I will get it for them.

It's just as long as they trust in me and believe in me,

I'll get it for them.

-Previously on Young, Welsh And Pretty Skint...

-It seems to be

what all women want at the moment is a big bum, little waist.

This is just the fashionable thing to have - toned legs and a nice bum.

..we met beauty and fitness entrepreneurs

Kate Austin and Caz Roberts.

They were running an aspirational ass class

from a tyre garage just outside Bridgend.

Everybody wants to know how to build it,

-and I know how, so...

-SHE LAUGHS

Their butt business was ballooning,

so they'd taken a lease on a warehouse the size of J Lo's behind.

-Ta-da!

-Their aim? To open the UK's largest 24-hour gym.

-They say size matters.

-SHE LAUGHS

Four weeks on, it's the eve of the grand opening,

and there's only one thing left for Kate and Caz to decide -

what to wear at the launch.

Although, as the Tweedledee and Tweedledum

of the beauty and fitness world, it might not take much guessing.

This is just a very small part of our matching collection.

As you can see, we wear everything exactly the same.

So, when we do spend money on clothes,

we've got to buy two of everything. But the fact that we do match and

-stand out benefits our business a lot.

-People just smile at us.

-Yeah.

They sort of, like, look and then smile. It seems to be a positive.

-I haven't had any negative.

-No, you get somebody come up to you and go,

"Why are you wearing the same clothes?" "Well, you wouldn't

-"have spoken to us if we wasn't." So...

-Yeah.

-..it works.

And matching clothes require matching shoes.

But this is just part of our shoe collection, trainers anyway.

We've lots of other shoes as well.

Pricey habit!

Nike Airs are 120.

Those... These ones, like I say, cos we fit in smaller sizes,

-you're looking at 60 quid a pair, but then...

-260 for the bottom row.

-Yeah!

-Over a grand!

-Yeah, well over a grand.

-At least.

-Just there, and that's not half of what we've got.

-Yeah.

Well, at least they won't be going to the opening in their slippers.

And here it is - the grand unveiling

of Kate and Caz's bum, Botox and buff bodies emporium.

The punters are pouring in and, contrary to expectations,

Kate's gone the professional route

and is addressing the shiny new staff in a panda-skinned two-piece.

Right, we're going to be opening shortly. Everybody's looking

nice and smart in their uniform, which I'm chuffed to bits with.

Um, there's going to be a lot of customers coming in.

Make every single one of them feel welcome,

give everybody a bit of attention, do your best for me today, guys,

and make sure everybody doesn't walk out that door without signing up.

All right?

And, as if to prove that this really is

the UK's biggest 24-hour gym, they've got a martial arts squad,

the Bridgend roller derby team, and some nifty free runners...

..all strutting their stuff.

Bodybuilding legend Zak Khan's well impressed.

As soon as I walked in, I went, "Bloody hell, its massive!"

But it's fair to say there's one essential thing missing.

A Kate and Caz ass class!

'No matter what, it'll always be Caz and Kate at the front.'

I can see that going for ever. I'd never see that stopping.

My idea, really, is to duplicate this now elsewhere in the UK.

Where, I'm not sure yet, but you'll be surprised how many message me,

saying they wish they had something like this in their area.

I've got people messaging me left, right and centre, saying, "I wish I lived in Bridgend."

And I never thought I'd hear someone say that, to be honest with you.

It's quite, um... That's a massive sense of achievement, that is.

So, for the girls who are making a bomb out of beautiful behinds,

the whole world is now in front of them.

CAMERA CLICKS

In Bryncoch, 26-year-old beautician Jade,

her friends Leanne and Lucy, and her mum's best mate Sonia,

are all putting on their slap ready for a night out in Swansea.

If I've got the time, I could spend, like, four hours getting ready.

But if I need to, I can get ready in one hour.

But today now, I've been getting ready most of the day, really.

Oh, my gosh, look how poofy my hair is!

-You've got to have a good canvas to start with, haven't you?

-Absolutely.

Yeah, you can't be buzzing, can you,

-and then expect to be fabulous?

-SHE LAUGHS

Yeah, you can't take a gargoyle, put make-up on her

-and make her look pretty. You can't, it's impossible!

-Everybody's pretty.

-I was going to say everyone's beautiful in their own way.

-Yeah.

The thing is, right, we know that these men prefer less,

but we've got a lot of make-up to use up.

-We can't let it go to waste!

-LAUGHTER

So that's why we end up going overboard!

It's not because we really need it.

-It's just because we want to use up the

-BLEEP

-we've got.

No, I have to paint in the cracks, I do.

-Put a bit of cement on and...

-JADE SINGS

But I need a face-lift, if anyone's offering.

Animals don't need make-up, and animals are beautiful.

Girls are lucky, I think, you know.

Because we've got more things to wear,

more things to do with our face, more things to do with our hair.

Like girls that have got no boobs can make themselves

look like they've got loads of boobs and, like, they're really perky.

But if you've got big boobs, it's hard to make them

look nice in a little dress, you know.

You know, some men just like big boobs, full stop.

My father was a breast man. He was definitely a breast man.

Some boys don't realise how powerful the boob is!

SONIA LAUGHS

The boob! The breasts are so powerful!

Power in the nipple!

SONIA GUFFAWS

GIGGLING

The banter and the wine are flowing, as is the cash.

Before setting foot out of the door,

it's already been an expensive night for Jade and the girls.

Well, if you were to say, like, the lashes are about £6,

the hair extensions over £100,

the dress about £50, shoes £50, handbag £25.

-God, I'm worth a lot, aren't I?

-SHE LAUGHS

Only joking!

No, to be honest, I think

my biggest expense is probably hair extensions and make-up,

like I've used loads of make-up today, I've used primer,

I've used the white make-up, the normal foundation,

the concealer, the highlighter, the darker foundation,

the dark powder, the light powder, the translucent powder,

the blusher, highlighter, and then there's eye make-up.

I've got so much on! There's a lot of people

that can't do what we're doing, cos they simply can't afford it.

And a few of the girls couldn't come out tonight, because they're skint.

What would you say is, like, your most expense is

-when it comes to your looks?

-Oh, God. It's unlimited, isn't it?

You just spend so much. When you see something you like,

-you've just got to keep buying more and more each time.

-Mm-hm.

I love dresses.

I think I've spent about £500 on a dress before, just for a night out.

It's probably just sitting in my wardrobe doing nothing now.

And Leanne spends almost as much on her hair extensions.

-How much has this set you back?

-I think it was about £300.

-LAUGHTER

-Yeah.

-It's worth it, though.

-Yeah.

-Was it? She's like, "I don't care!"

-Yeah.

-"I've got long hair! I don't care how much it costs!"

-It's lush.

-It's more feminine. It's sexy.

-Yeah.

-It's really sexy.

-And guys want something to grab onto. They do!

-Yeah.

It's true!

This has grown out of somebody else's scalp. Isn't that amazing?

-I know.

-This hair has grown out of somebody else's head!

-Yeah.

And it's now in the little village of Bryncoch in South Wales,

-in the middle of the UK.

-I know.

-Like just...

-It sounds awful!

-It's crazy, innit?

-What if it's from someone, like, really scruffy?

-It could be from a man!

-Aw, God!

And so, for this everyday night on the town,

the girls sashay out of the house in approximately £1,500 worth

of make-up, clothing and hair that may or may not have originated

from the scalp of a scruffy man.

Obviously, I'm the prettiest. Of course!

Ladies, your carriage awaits for the short journey into Swansea.

Meanwhile, some 200 miles away in the O2 Arena in London, it's

the finals of the European Pro-AM Fitness & Fashion competition.

It's the one and only WBFF European Championships.

There are camera crews and photographers everywhere.

And for beauty and fitness model Caitlin, the big moment has arrived.

Over the course of the next 30 minutes on stage,

Caitlin will find out if several months of physical,

mental and financial hammerings have all been worth the effort.

The competition has two rounds. First, bikini and then theme wear.

Caitlin's hoping to come out on top, not for the plastic trophy

and £500 prize money, but for the fact that the winner

will be given their pro card - professional status.

And with it, the chance to win lucrative modelling

and sponsorship contracts.

With so many girls competing it's going to be tough,

but Caitlin believe she knows what the judges are looking for.

I'd say your physique, probably about 40%.

They do have a desired look that they go for usually.

It's the big bouncy hair, big glamorous make up.

They want the sexy side of things,

but they also want the pretty girl next door.

Someone that people can relate to and look up to.

It's the glitz and glamour of it.

I think that's what wins the competition,

not necessarily who has the best body.

It's not just about that, it's the overall package.

Whilst Caitlin struts her overall package, back in Pontardawe,

big-haired Angel Matthew's getting spruced up

ready for his charity concert spot.

Ready?

In order to look truly heavenly, he'll need his fake tan topped up.

Ta-da! Brown. Happy days.

Next, it's the angelic hairdo.

It may look divine, but fitting it is pure hell.

It's round about 200 or 300 clips in my head to keep this head piece in.

And it's heavy.

Thankfully, Matthew's Auntie Mary owns the salon,

so this one's on the house.

I absolutely adore him and encourage him to be different and be himself.

Like I've always said to Matthew,

"It's better to be looked at than overlooked."

-It's as simple as that, isn't it?

-Mm-hm.

And be yourself no matter what.

And I'm very proud of you.

Tonight's performance is a charity gig down the local naval club.

Be it Las Vegas or Llandovery, show time means glow time -

studs, wings and plenty of bling.

Right. And we're done.

Give it up one more time for Matthew Roberts!

CHEERING

# Hello, it's me

# I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet... #

I do this for people who are too scared to be themselves,

who aren't happy with themselves.

People who are scared to come out as gay, bisexual,

transgender, lesbian, anything.

So I kind of think if I put all this image on

that I can push people in the right direction cos

if I can do this in front of an audience,

why can't they just come out and be themselves and be happy

and just be who they want to be in life?

# I've forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet... #

Part me says, "Yeah, I'm doing it for myself, Matthew,"

because he was that shy person at school who got bullied a lot

and who got dangled over a staircase at school.

This now is somebody who can stand up and go,

"Hi, thank you for what you've done because without your help

"or the bullies then I wouldn't be this person today."

So, thanks.

You made this person. If you don't like it you know where to do.

# Hello from the outside... #

CHEERING

-I love you. I'm so proud of you.

-Argh, my neck, my neck!

-OK, OK.

-I'm sorry. I'm so proud of you.

Meanwhile, in another part of the universe,

at the Beauty And Fitness modelling competition,

it's the theme wear round.

The contestants have been encouraged to come up with a glamorous

look that not only compliments their physique,

but is also tasteful and classy.

It's an eclectic mix.

Caitlin is sporting her gladiator attire.

When she had her fitting, this arresting outfit

of 7,000 hand-glued crystals appeared very glam and out there.

However, tonight, it seems she's up against

some stiff and outlandish opposition.

Amidst the usual cacophony of feathers and sparkles,

there's an angel, who seems to have been caught up in an explosion

in a tanning factory.

A model impaled on a Christmas tree and, most eye-catching of all,

someone who appears to have been run over by a trawler.

When it comes to the judges choosing their final five,

it'll be a tough call, but will Caitlin make it?

Can get Natalia, please?

Can I get Connie?

CHEERING

Can I get Sabrina, please?

Can I get Agata, please?

And can I get Asta, please?

So, the exploding angel

and the Christmas tree make it to the final five.

But there's no trawler lady and, more to the point, no Caitlin.

So, as Caitlin reluctantly leaves the stage,

the crown goes to Sabrina, the Christmas tree.

A worthy winner.

Welcome to the WBFF Pro family.

And, as Sabrina collects her plastic trophy,

her cheque for 500 quid

and, in all likelihood, a number of highly lucrative modelling

and sponsorship contracts,

it's left to Caitlin to sum up where it all went wrong.

My expectations for this competition were a lot higher.

I took fifth place in the worlds, the previous Europeans,

I take second place. Yeah, obviously,

it's not nice knowing that you've done better in the past and not

walking away with as high a placing, but it's one of those things.

I think I needed to get to this stage of not doing as well,

to know that your body needs a break.

It's been two years, basically, nonstop of dieting

and competition prep.

Yeah, it's a learning curve. It's not going to set me back.

It's one of those things that just pushes me harder

for next time I step on stage.

Whilst Caitlin vows to fight another day,

for Marc and Corey the night has only just begun.

And they're in London tonight, too.

As part of his annual thank you to his acts and clients,

agent Mark has hired a party bus for a Christmas roister doister.

Careening through the streets of London, the champagne's flowing,

tequilas are on the house and it's promising to get pretty messy

before Big Ben bongs.

In Swansea, things are rather more sedate.

Having spent all of that time

and money getting it on for a big night out,

it seems the city's residents got wind of Jade and her mates' plans

and the entire population appears to have decamped.

Still, waste not want not, and they can always dance the night away.

There's no lack of partners on agent Mark's party bus,

where he's just about to play Santa to Corey and Marc.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Now, you've never done a photoshoot in your life?

Neither have you. I believe in you.

-INDISTINCT CHATTER

-Quiet!

This is important. This is really important.

I see beyond everything. I believe beyond everything.

You have to understand me, this is the first photo of your first

photoshoot of the whole world.

-..I bet you did as well.

-Quiet!

Listen, I don't always have complete faith in you.

Marc will be the first to be to tell you that, right?

But for everything you've done for me, I thank you.

I love you, Mark! Whoo!

It's not over yet, they've only just started.

Trip.

That's it, this trip is over for Young, Welsh And Pretty Skint.

But, in answer to all the mockers and the knockers,

the last word goes to the Bard of Bryncoch, Jade.

I think that people do judge a book by its cover

and they think that people are superficial.

And you do kind of feel a bit superficial.

There is more to life, you know?

We all know that, it doesn't take a chimpanzee to know that.

But if you see people and they look like they are superficial

and they're enjoying themselves and they're happy,

they're probably just nice people, enjoying their lives.