Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Women look up to Venus Williams more than new female Olympics stars

The UK’s new female Olympic stars such as swimmer Becki Adlington aren’t yet considered role models by British women.

Instead they have voted Venus Williams as the most admired female sports star.

That’s according to a new survey of its 882,000 members by female forums and fashion game Miss Bimbo.

It asked members in three different age groups to vote on which female sports stars they considered as role models.

Venus was consistently top of the poll in all three age groups, with Paula Radcliffe and Dame Kelly Holmes also doing well.

New stars such as Becki Adlington and cyclist Nicole Cooke were recognised by Miss Bimbo’s members just days after their Olympic success.

Chris Evans runs the site. He said: “The new stars such as Becki are entering the public conciousness for the 1st time, and should be delighted that they have attracted votes in this Miss Bimbo survey.

“Having strong female role models is very important to women. The female sports stars they have picked are considered strong, powerful women, who overcome the odds to win.”

He added: “After such an amazing games, we are going to see these names come up time and time again.”

Miss Bimbo’s members agreed with Chris in comments left in the website about the sports stars they voted for.

One said this year’s gold medal winners will become sports heros in the years to come.

Another said: “Venus Williams shows how strong women can be. You never see her in a scandal.”

Miss Bimbo launched in the UK in August 2007 as a virtual fashion game, and has since grown into a social networking phenomenom.

In the game players must create a female character known as a Bimbo and help her thrive in a virtual world. They do this by feeding her, buying her clothes and living out her life online.

Miss Bimbo has one of the most active female forums in the UK, and is growing by an average of 4,000 new members a day.

Asking the question “which of these sports role models do you most admire”, the full survey results are:

13-21 year olds:

Zara Phillips -3%
Venus Williams -17%
Paula Radcliffe - 16%
Dame Kelly Holmes - 19%
Becki Adlington - 9%
Nicole Cooke - 4%
Annika Sorensen - 0%
Ana Ivanovic - 14%
Martina Navratilova - 4%
Anna Kournikova - 9%

22-30 year olds:

Zara Phillips - 8%
Venus Williams - 26%
Paula Radcliffe - 11%
Dame Kelly Holmes - 11%
Becki Adlington - 4%
Nicole Cooke - 2%
Annika Sorensen - 1%
Ana Ivanovic - 10%
Martina Navratilova - 11%
Anna Kournikova - 12%

30+ years old:

Zara Phillips - 3%
Venus Williams - 17%
Paula Radcliffe - 10%
Dame Kelly Holmes - 15%
Becki Adlington - 8%
Nicole Cooke - 3%
Annika Sorensen - 3%
Ana Ivanovic - 12%
Martina Navratilova - 8%
Anna Kournikova - 15%


NOTES TO EDITORS:

• For any further information or interviews please contact Paul Green at Publicity Heaven PR agency on 08452 303049, or e-mail press@publicityheaven.com