Eileen Catterson is a former Scottish fashion model best known for winning Miss Scotland in 1987 at the age of 17. Born in March 1970 and raised in Erskine, Renfrewshire, she used her pageant success to launch a successful modelling career during the late 1980s and 1990s. She appeared in campaigns for Scottish brands such as What Everyone Wants and worked internationally before stepping away from the public spotlight.
Catterson was disqualified from Miss Universe 1987 due to being underage, but later competed in Miss Europe 1988. She is also known for a widely reported 1990s legal case involving McCowan’s Irn-Bru toffee, which she claimed damaged her teeth.
Since around 1990, she has been in a long-term relationship with singer Marti Pellow of Wet Wet Wet, with whom she lives in Windsor, Berkshire. She is the cousin of actor Gerard Butler and continues to maintain a highly private life as of 2026.
Eileen Catterson (Biography – Updated 2026)
Eileen Catterson is a former Scottish fashion model best known for winning Miss Scotland 1987 at the age of 17. She enjoyed a successful modelling career during the late 1980s and 1990s before deliberately stepping away from public life. As of 2026, she remains a private individual and is rarely seen in the media.
Birth and Early Life
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Born: March 1970
(Exact birth date not publicly confirmed; she turned 55 in 2025.) -
Place of upbringing: Erskine, Renfrewshire, Scotland
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Nationality: Scottish
Family Background
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Parents’ names: Not publicly disclosed
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Eileen Catterson has consistently kept family details out of the public record.
Education
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Secondary school: Park Mains High School, Erskine
(Some older sources mention Trinity High School in Renfrew, but more recent and reliable references point to Park Mains.) -
Higher education: No publicly available information regarding university attendance or academic degrees
Career Entry and Highlights
Eileen Catterson entered the public eye after winning Miss Scotland 1987.
Beauty Pageants
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Miss Scotland 1987: Winner (aged 17)
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Miss Universe 1987: Disqualified due to being under the minimum age requirement
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Miss Europe 1988: Competed (unplaced)
Despite her Miss Universe disqualification, she retained her national title and used the exposure to launch a professional modelling career.
Modelling Career
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Active primarily during the late 1980s and 1990s
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Known for campaigns with Scottish brands, most notably “What Everyone Wants”
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Undertook international commercial modelling assignments
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Her work focused on print and fashion campaigns rather than runway or acting
Business Activity
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Former director of Claire Catterson Casting Ltd, a casting-related company
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The company has since been dissolved
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No current business ventures are publicly associated with her
Family and Relationships
Relationship
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Partner: Marti Pellow (former lead singer of Wet )
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Together since: Around 1990
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How they met: On a date at a Rangers football match
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Duration: Over 35 years as of 2026
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Residence: Windsor, Berkshire, England
While often described as life partners and occasionally as engaged, there is no public confirmation of marriage. Both have made deliberate efforts to keep their personal life private. Marti Pellow has publicly credited Eileen Catterson as a vital source of support during his recovery from addiction in the late 1990s.
Children
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There is no public information or confirmation that Eileen Catterson has children.
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Reliable sources indicate none with Marti Pellow.
Relatives
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Cousin: Gerard Butler (actor)
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The relationship has been confirmed in interviews.
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Butler has spoken warmly and humorously about the family connection.
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Gerard Butler – widely reported physical traits (for context):
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Height: approximately 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
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Hair colour: dark brown
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Eye colour: green / hazel
No physical details of other relatives are publicly available.
Finances and Assets
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Net worth: Not publicly, but £15m+ range
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Property:
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Resides in a home in Windsor, Berkshire, with Marti Pellow
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No verified public details about additional properties
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Vehicles:
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No confirmed information on car ownership
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A 1998 photograph shows her with a BMW Z3 convertible, likely promotional rather than indicative of long-term ownership
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Media and Online Presence
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Social media:
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active or publicly known on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter), or TikTok
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Maintains a minimal digital footprint
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Film and video:
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No known film roles
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No movies or viral online videos featuring her
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Her public visibility largely comes from archived modelling photographs, pageant records, and occasional retrospective media mentions.
Current Status (2026)
As of January 2026, Eileen Catterson lives a quiet, private life away from public attention. She has not made any major public appearances, and no new developments emerged in late 2025 or early 2026, reflecting her long-standing commitment to discretion.
1. 2026 Summer Tour (Special Guest for Billy Ocean)
- May 29:
Leigh Sports Village Stadium
, Leigh.
- June 20:
Lincoln Castle
, Lincoln.
- June 21:
Guildhall Square
, Southampton.
- June 24:
Cannock Chase Forest
, Rugeley.
- June 27:
Llangollen Pavilion
, Llangollen.
- June 28:
Scarborough Open Air Theatre
, Scarborough.
- July 9:
Cardiff Castle
, Cardiff.
- July 10 & 12:
The Piece Hall
, Halifax.
- August 20:
Colchester Castle Park
, Colchester.
- August 21:
Darley Park
, Derby.
2. Heartland Festival 2026
- June 26:
Pitlochry Recreation Ground
, Pitlochry.
3. Scrooge The Musical (Headlining Role)
- December 12, 2026 – January 10, 2027:
SEC Armadillo
, Glasgow.
4. Special Events
- October 9–15, 2026: A themed cruise with Tony Hadley visiting Gothenburg, Copenhagen, and Skagen.
Summary
Eileen Catterson’s story reflects not only early fame but a deliberate choice to step away from it. The public remembers her for winning Miss Scotland in 1987 and for her successful modelling career during the 1990s. Rather than pursue ongoing celebrity, she chose privacy, stability, and a long-term partnership.
Many personal details remain undisclosed by choice, reflecting her intentional low-profile life in 2026.
People Also Ask (FAQ Section)
Who is Eileen Catterson?
Eileen Catterson is a former Scottish fashion model and beauty queen who won Miss Scotland in 1987 and later had a successful modelling career in the late 1980s and 1990s.
Is Eileen Catterson married to Marti Pellow?
There is no public confirmation that Eileen Catterson and Marti Pellow are married. They have been long-term partners since around 1990 and keep their personal life private.
Does Eileen Catterson have children?
There is no public information confirming that Eileen Catterson has any children.
What happened with the Irn-Bru toffee lawsuit?
In the late 1990s, Eileen Catterson sued confectionery company McCowans, claiming that their Irn-Bru–flavoured toffee damaged her teeth. The case attracted widespread media attention at the time.
Is Eileen Catterson related to Gerard Butler?
Yes. Eileen Catterson is the cousin of actor Gerard Butler, a fact both have acknowledged publicly.
