A STUNNING Accrington student has beaten 19 other girls to represent Bolton in a national modelling competition.

Eighteen-year-old Natalie Afsar, of Foxwood Chase, Accrington, beat off the competition in the final of the Bolton Model Girl competition at the Packhorse Hotel in Bolton and will now go on to represent the town in the grand final in Manchester in July.

The pretty Blackburn College student was entered in the competition after being spotted by the manager of a modelling agency while out with friends on a shopping trip to Bolton recently.

Dressed down in Ugg boots and jeans, the former Moorhead High School pupil was offered the chance to enter the competition. She was also offered a modelling and casting contract and free portfolio.

Natalie’s parents, Ann Fawcett and Ifty Afsar, are both thrilled and supportive of their daughter’s achievement, and Natalie’s friends were as delighted as she was.

Natalie said: "I was just in complete shock – unbelievably happy, but shocked. I’d never properly thought about modelling - I never thought it would go anywhere, so it’s pretty unbelievable really.

"I’d like to carry it on because it was an amazing day at the competition."