BARRY Town FC star Atif Bashir has been crowned Welsh Spectacle Wearer of the Year.

The soccer star's prize-winning success came after he was victorious in the Welsh semi-final of Specsavers' 12th annual modelling competition.

As one of thousands of hopefuls who entered the international contest, Atif beat off stiff competition from a bevy of bespectacled beauties at the semi-final, held at Specsavers in Cardiff.

The 23-year-old defender said: "Winning the semi-final was absolutely fantastic and I'm thrilled to be representing Wales at the London grand final.

"I think it’s great that specs wearers are being celebrated for their style. I love my glasses - they are so much part of who I am."

Atif, who is part Pakistani, Turkish, Greek and German, will begin studying for a degree in Quantity Surveying at the University of Glamorgan this September.

In the evenings he works as a doorman in bars and clubs but he has always been interested in becoming a model.

"I have two major ambitions in life – playing football, and becoming a model," he said.

"I’m already playing football for Barry Town and have also played for Pakistan at the 2008 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup against the Maldives, India and Nepal.

"Now, having set my sights on becoming a model, I am delighted to have reached this far in the competition. I can’t wait for the grand final!

"I’d like to thank my sister, Yasmin, who has given me a lot of support throughout the competition and came to cheer me on at the Cardiff semi-final," Atif added.

"I’m looking forward to taking lots of friends and family to the grand final in London and hopefully they will have more reason to celebrate come the end of the night."

The decision was made by a panel of top judges, including Queen Street Specsavers store manager James Deavall; Kathryn Deeprose of MOT Models; Cardiff Devils Ice Hockey star Shannon Hope; former Miss Wales Kelly Pesticcio; and Rin Simpson of Media Wales.

Contestants were judged on their facial features, hair, vitality, personality and overall ‘specs appeal’. Store manager, James, said: ‘It was a really difficult decision to make because the standard of entries this year was so high and we had so many contestants who looked great in their new designer glasses.

"I’m delighted that we have such a strong contestant in Cardiff to represent Wales at the international final in London. I wish Atif the very best of luck."

Atif will now go through to the glamorous grand final of Specsavers’ Spectacle Wearer of the Year modelling competition at the Waldorf Hilton in London on Tuesday, October 21.

The star-studded event will be judged by Channel 4 presenter and celebrity stylist Gok Wan, as well as national and international media judges and celebrity hairdresser Errol Douglas.

Atif will be pitted against specs wearers from all over the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands.

If successful, he will secure a year’s modelling contract with top London agency MOT models and the chance to appear in a Specsavers advertising campaign.

He will also win a two-week all-inclusive holiday for two in St Lucia or Barbados, courtesy of The Almond Resorts and Virgin Holidays, as well as hair and beauty products from Matrix and Benefit cosmetics, plus eyecare from Specsavers.

What’s more, by entering this year’s Spectacle Wearer of the Year competition, Atif has also helped to raise money for charity.

Specsavers is donating £1 for every eligible entry it has received in this year’s competition to anti-bullying charity Kidscape, which will help them continue with their valuable work with children and young people.