A student has lifted the lid on life as a contestant on a television modelling show - and the pressure to be a size zero.
Leanne Nagle of Cloverlands, Colchester, beat competition from thousands of hopefuls to appear in the fourth series of Britain's Next Top Model.
The 18-year-old who lives with her mother, Carol, 45, and sisters Sian, 16, and Chloe, seven, impressed the judges in three gruelling interviews to be selected for the final 14.
She said: "I didn't know what to do when they told me - I thought I had completely messed it up.
"They said you have done so well in making it this far' and then they said I would be moving into the house."
Miss Nagle took a break from her studies at Colchester Sixth Form College to film the show, which goes on air on Living TV from April 21.
The teenager, who has directed shows for Wivenhoe Youth Theatre and volunteers for the RSPCA shop in Prettygate, said: "It was an amazing experience.
"I was a massive fan of America's Next Top Model and it was incredible to meet all these photographers and people in fashion."
- More in today's Gazette
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