A New Malden woman has emerged victorious from 5,000 applicants in a televised nationwide Top Model search launched by GMTV presenter Lorraine Kelly and former model Jerry Hall.

Eli Jansen Van Vuuren, 32, consistently impressed judges and received the highest public vote in last Thursday's live final to secure a modelling contract with top London agency ICM.

It concluded a 12-week contest featured on LK Today to find a so-called older model for ICM's Classic Model project, meaning entrants had to be 30 to 55 years old and at least 5ft 8in.

And Eli, who also won £5,000 worth of clothes from fashion retailer CC, is delighted to be part of such an innovative concept defying the normal conventions of the modelling industry.

She said: "Normally as a model, your career is over in your 30s but maybe now it will change, that would be fantastic. We still like to take care of ourselves, that's just part of being a woman.

"The introduction to ICM is major as it's such a great agency, but now the hard work starts. I hope the industry is ready for some old, mature models!"

Eli was born and raised in Norway, and moved to the UK two years ago to be with her husband Rudi. She is setting up a property interior design company called FerNes.

She originally abandoned a promising modelling career in her teens to sit a degree.

She said: "At the time, I felt I needed to get some good education. I haven't regretted the decision as such, but it has always been there in the back of my head.

"The good thing is that now I don't feel as insecure and threatened as I used to when I was modelling at a young age."

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