Potter star Katie works her magic with style judges

AS CHO CHANG, she captured the heart of Harry Potter after beating 4,000 other hopefuls to the prestigious role.

As Katie Leung, she is an aspiring Scottish actress who is being courted by some of the world's biggest fashion houses.

Now the 20-year-old from Motherwell is in line for new acclaim: as the most stylish Scotswoman of 2007.

But if she wants to follow in the footsteps of model Lauren Tempany and jazz singer Nikki King (the 2005 and 2006 winners), Leung will have to outshine a list of formidable competitors. They include Ugly Betty star Ashley Jensen and actress Laura Fraser as well as Hannah McGill, director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, and artist Gay Grossart.

The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in Glasgow on October 26. Scotland on Sunday has been given an exclusive preview of the nominations and can also reveal that the shortlist was selected by a panel headed by the Australian supermodel Elle McPherson.

The judges were asked to look for men and women "whose truly inspirational personal style is an important factor in their celebrity".

The most stylish Scotsman may also come from the big screen with James McAvoy, star of The Last King Of Scotland and Atonement, up against Rome's Kevin McKidd.

They face competition from Britain's most expensive goalkeeper, Craig Gordon, the 24-year-old who recently transferred from Hearts to Sunderland; Mutley, the cultural entrepreneur from Glasgow; and comic book and screen writer Grant Morrison.

The Scottish Tastemaker of the Year nominations include a magazine, a record company and an arts director. Style and music journal Clash is based in Dundee but circulates in 28 countries, while Soma Records is an electronic dance music label with a global following.

Meanwhile, Vicky Featherstone is credited with bringing new life, audiences and interest to theatre as the artistic director of the National Theatre of Scotland.

Other awards up for grabs include most stylish restaurant, bar, hotel, cafe, entertainment venue, boutique, fashion designer and musician. One surprise nomination in the retailing section is Topshop, mainly because of the coup in attracting the Kate Moss Collection.

Katie Leung is described as "making fashion waves thanks to her youthful and quirky style." Meanwhile, Laura Fraser, the 31-year-old actress from Glasgow who was Bafta-nominated last year for her role in The Flying Scotsman, is praised for her "enigmatic sensuality." Her personal style is "quietly bohemian, bordering on grunge, unaffected and utterly real."

McGill, 30, is described as the film festival's dynamic new artistic director. Her "signature smear of dark lipstick" and ability to "work a pencil skirt with aplomb" reflects the style of the coolest screen stars.

If Gordon wins, it will be two-in-a-row for footballers after the triumph last year of Steven Pressley. "This dark and handsome 24-year-old certainly knows his Prada from everyone else's Primark," says his citation.

He is up against the "rugged and intense masculinity" of Kevin McKidd.

James McAvoy, however is likely to be the favourite. His citation says: "This 28-year-old Scotstoun-born actor exhibits an admirable sense of distinctive yet effortless style in his downtime. Sharply-suited and booted, however, he cuts an especially dashing figure on any red carpet occasion."

Image consultants said the lists represented a good range of talent. Martin Hunt, head of the Tartan Silk PR agency, said:

"Most stylish Scotsman for me would have to be James McAvoy. He is very contemporary and is promoting Scotland very well at the moment."

Scottish style awards: shortlists for all categories.

The awards, sponsored by Glasgow:Scotland with Style, champagne house Moet & Chandon and radio station Xfm, will be held at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow on October 26.

MOST STYLISH MALE

Craig Gordon
Kevin McKidd
Mutley
Grant Morrison
James McAvoy

MOST STYLISH FEMALE

Gay Grossart
Katie Leung
Laura Fraser
Hannah McGill
Ashley Jensen

MOST STYLISH BAND/MUSICIAN

Dot Allison, singer
Calvin Harris, performer and song writer The Aliens The Cuban Brothers
KT Tunstall

SCOTTISH TASTEMAKER OF THE YEAR

Clash Magazine
Soma Records
Vicky Featherstone

MOST STYLISH BAR

Bramble, Edinburgh
Amicus Apple, Edinburgh
Ivy, Glasgow
Great Scots bar, Cameron House, Loch Lomond Gandolfi Bar, Glasgow

MOST STYLISH BOUTIQUE

Boudiche, Edinburgh
Brigitte, Glasgow
Arkangel, Edinburgh
Peter Johnson, Edinburgh
Brazen, Glasgow

MOST STYLISH HOTEL

Dakota Forth Bridges
Hotel du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens, Glasgow Kinnaird, Perthshire The Lodge, Jura Boath House, Nairn

MOST STYLISH RESTAURANT

Restaurant Martin Wishart
Abstract, Edinburgh
Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles
The Bistro, Hotel du Vin, Glasgow
Gandolfi Fish, Glasgow

MOST STYLISH CAFE

The Cupping Salon at Fifi &Ally, Glasgow Kember & Jones, Glasgow Tinderbox, Glasgow Glass & Thompson, Edinburgh North Star, Glasgow

MOST STYLISH FOOD/WINE RETAILER

Kember & Jones, Glasgow
Heart & Buchanan, Glasgow
Valvonna & Crolla, Edinburgh
Harvey Nichols Foodmarket, Edinburgh
Iain Mellis, Edinburgh

SCOTTISH FASHION DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Christopher Kane
Jonathan Saunders
Aimee McWilliams
Vidler & Nixon
Deryck Walker

MOST STYLISH ENTERTAINMENT VENUE

Classic Grand, Glasgow
Home House, Edinburgh
Lulu, Edinburgh
The Club at One-Up, Glasgow
Sub Club, Glasgow

MOST STYLISH HIGH STREET RETAILER

Topshop
Faith
Zara
Jigsaw
New Look

MOST STYLISH LIFESTYLE/INTERIORS RETAILER

Timorous Beasties, Glasgow
Dallas & Dallas, Glasgow
Galletly & Tubbs, Glasgow
Tangram, Edinburgh
Jeffrey Interiors, Edinburgh