An international student from Taiwan may soon be designing Kate Middleton’s next pair of heels. 21-year-old Mei Chun Lai is one of six students from the UK’s De Montfort University chosen to design shoes for the Duchess of Cambridge in a competition that is sure to reveal footwear’s designer of the future.

The royal will be presented with all six sketches when she visits Leicester next week along with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh as part of the first leg of the Queen’s diamond jubilee tour. Kate will make a special visit to the Leicester-based DMU to look at all six designs from students of the prestigious footwear programme, and will announce her favourite design on the same day.

The internationally recognised DMU Footwear Design degree, that in 2004 awarded Jimmy Choo with an Honorary Doctorate of Arts, selected the final six students from a hundred applicants – whittling the competition to a shortlist comprising British students Sam Sawkill, Kay Yeng Cheng, Summer Spencer, Tabitha Duffield and Becka Hunt along with Asian representative Mei Chun Lai.

Head of DMU’s footwear degree, Kevin Guildford, said: “We were thrilled when the Palace asked for six designs for the Duchess to choose from.

“It’s the most fabulous opportunity for the students who couldn’t hope for a bigger fashion icon to endorse their designs. Whoever wins is bound to be starting a brilliant career.”

Mei Chun Lai, whose design is called the ‘Dragon Year’, said: “The concept comes from this being the year of the dragon and its shape is inspired by a lantern. I wanted to show my culture and background through my design. I didn’t expect to get this far. It’s such a great honour to be selected for the final six!”

The winning student will receive the opportunity to create a pair for the royal to wear. De Montfort University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard said: “What a huge honour and magnificent opportunity this will be for the winning student. When asked who their first commission was for at their first job interview, they will be able to reply – The Duchess of Cambridge, the world’s leading fashion icon. Opportunities like this are exactly what our students can expect when they come to DMU, a university which is becoming known worldwide for its quality and distinctiveness.”

The shoes that the Duchess chooses will be made-up and presented to her within a few weeks of her visit to the university.

Fairytale-inspired heels by Kay Yeng Cheng.

 

Chinese New Year-inspired heels by Mei Chun Lai.

Kate and Prince William's coat of arms-inspired heels by Summer Spencer.

Kate's engagement ring-inspired heels by Becka Hunt.

Feminine and elegant heels by Tabatha Duffield.

English-rose inspired heels by Sam Sawkill.