Blonde ambition

Legally Blonde stars fair-haired Elle Woods, played by Reese Witherspoon. She is dumped by her senator-to-be boyfriend, who thinks a golden-locked lovely on his arm will hurt his image.

But Elle proves peroxide does not damage prospects and being blonde is no bar to brain power -- by becoming a hot shot lawyer.

Here, Irma Heger, talks to two "blondes on blonde" . . SUCCESSFUL Bolton business woman Marjorie Innes (aged "39 plus VAT") has been a blonde for 20 years.

"I think it was middle age creeping up," she reflected.

"Having blonde hair makes you look brighter and feel brighter. It lifts your personality and your outlook and gives you confidence as well.

"It says: 'This is me, I'm blonde'."

She said the current colour fashion for fair has spelt the death of the idea that the owner of the blonde barnet is "dippy or simple".

"And the hairdressers are obviously rubbing their hands," she smiled.

Being blonde has not made any difference to her up-market womens fashion wholesale business success, which sees her visiting fashion shows all over the world.

But stunning Marjorie, who is highly thought of within her business circles, said it could work for women in showbiz and fashion.

"It did make a big difference to Marilyn Monroe, didn't it?" said Marjorie, whose business is based in Manchester's "rag trade" district.

"I think it is the men who notice it more than the women -- I think men do prefer blondes." PRETTY blonde Catherine Butler is a 22-year-old legal secretary from Harwood.

As a young school leaver, she started her career as an office junior, working her way up to become the lawyers' "rock".

Her ultimate ambition is a position in the high-powered world of information technology.

"I've done quite well," said Catherine. She said her natural hair colour -- now enlivened with high-lights -- has never stood in the way of her career.

Neither does she think people see her any different from a brunette or redhead.

And she should know -- because she has tried darker colours.

"I like changing my hair, but I like blonde best -- it's natural." MARCUS Forrest -- from Hair by Marcus on Bradshawgate -- said he tried a blonde make-over himself after first hearing about Legally Blonde.

For six weeks, the top hairdresser changed his hairdo from dark to honey-coloured.

"It was exciting," he said.

"It certainly felt very strange at first. For two days, I didn't want to answer the door. I felt very aware of the fact I had changed so much.

"But after two days, I had forgotten about it."

As for the "airhead" tag, Marcus does not believe being blonde turns anyone into a bimbo.

"I didn't feel I had lost any brain cells with it! I don't think being blonde makes you dippy or less intelligent."

He said blonde hair is often attractive, especially combined with a pale British complexion, or constrasted with black clothes.

"They do say blondes have more fun. And maybe they even have more brain cells sometimes -- they know how to use them."

He said the majority of his clients seem to be blonde these days.

Attracted by the range of pale colours and colour combinations available, many opt for bottle blonde locks or highlights teamed with contrasting hues.

Said Marcus: "There is more choice when you are blonde." CONFIDENT BLONDE: business woman Marjorie Innes Ref: J3334/3 BLONDE AMBITION: legal secretary Catherine Butler LEGALLY BLONDE: Reese Witherspoon as fair-haired Elle Woods BACK T0 BRUNETTE: Hairdresser Marcus Forrest