A PAGEANTS firm has fallen foul of the MTV Music Awards after making "completely false" claims that its teenage contestants could win the chance to work at the awards ceremony when it comes to Scotland.
Lanarkshire-based Modelscotland said entrants to its Miss Scotland Perfect contest might be chosen to rub shoulders with pop and rock celebrities as "VIP ushers" at the superstar event.
Miss Scotland Perfect is due to be held at the Bruce Hotel in East Kilbride on August 3. It is open to contestants aged 13 to 20.
A post on Modelscotland 's Facebook page, dated May 29, carries the MTV logo
It states that finalists "will have their photos forwarded to the organisers of the MTV Europe Music Awards 2014, which is being held in Glasgow".
It adds: "Anyone selected will be given the opportunity to work as a VIP Usher on the night of the awards."
But a spokeswoman for MTV in the UK rubbished the claims. "This is completely false and has nothing to do with us," she said.
She added that MTV was now contacting Modelscotland to demand that the organsiation stops using the MTV brand to promote its pageant.
Chart-topping stars including Katy Perry, One Direction and Miley Cyrus are likely to be among the lineup when the MTV extravaganza comes to Glasgow for the first time in November. It will take place at the SSE Hydro.
Question marks have also been raised over a photoshoot for the finalists in Miss Scotland Perfect.
In the same May 29 Facebook post, the agency states that finalists "will be taking part in an exclusive photoshoot with Forever 21 and the Scottish Fire Service".
However, a spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said no such event would be taking place at any of its fire stations.
He said: "We understand the company intended to use our premises to hold a photo-shoot and have advised them that we will not be able to facilitate the request."
Scotland only has one branch of the fashion chain Forever 21, in Glasgow's Buchanan Street. Staff at the flagship store said they were currently unaware of any plans for a Modelscotland photoshoot, but confirmed that a similar event had been held in the store last summer.
The questions over Modelscotland come months after detectives dropped a probe into the organisation over charity money. The Herald revealed in January police were investigating after parents became concerned money raised by Modelscotland-run pageant contestants may not have been passed on to good causes.
The Herald's own investigation uncovered discrepancies, including a donation of £3850 which could not be traced. In March, Police Scotland said it had completed its inquiry and "no criminality" was found.
However, the Herald subsequently revealed detectives never questioned Modelscotland or any charities supposed to have benefitted from its fundraising.
Angel Dairo, director of Modelscotland, said: "We have confirmation from the Scottish Fire Service and Forever 21 in regards to a photoshoot that will be happening with them … we have our contacts in these departments who have agreed and they are happy for us to use their premises."
However, Modelscotland refused to disclose the names of these contacts.
On the MTV Awards, Modelscotland stated: "We have been contacted by a client this year who requires hosts for their attendance of the MTV Europe Awards … Our contact for the MTV Europe Awards has also asked for us to supply photos for their selection, for which we are awaiting a reply."
Modelscotland declined to provide the name of this contact for MTV to verify.
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