FORMER Dorchester schoolgirl Charlotte Skilling is looking to set a model example to other wannabe catwalk stars.

The 24-year-old from Sydling St Nicholas, quit her banking job three years ago to move to London and live her dream of becoming a model.

The former St Osmunds Middle School and Thomas Hardye School pupil has now set up her own modelling school to help other aspiring models fulfil their dream.

She said: “After finishing school I was working in an office and I just thought it was not me at all.

“I moved to London and said I was going to be a model. I was following a dream on a bit of a whim.

“But I did it and was actually quite successful. I was so proud of what I achieved and wanted to help out other people.”

Charlotte said that at about the time she had her idea for her project, she met TV presenter and model Debbie King, who had a similar idea, and the pair went into business with the London School of Modelling.

A year on from setting up, the academy in South West London has taken in around 250 students.

Charlotte, who is creative director at the school, said the course offers help and advice to youngsters that she missed out on when trying to break through as a model.

She said: “It’s been a long journey since we came together and the response since we’ve formed the company has been amazing.

“There is no help out there for people and there are so many modelling scams. When young people have these dreams they get taken in.

“We want to stop people getting conned and scammed and give them real advice and lessons.”

Charlotte says inspiring confidence in young models is proving an immensely rewarding career and she is ‘amazed’ at how far she has come since moving up to the capital.

She said: “I just can’t believe what an amazing thing I have created with Debbie.

“Nobody really encourages you to follow your dreams, especially when it’s in something unstable like the fashion industry or modelling.

“I never thought I would be doing anything like this and I’m so pleased with what I achieved.

“I would have regretted it so much if I had gone through life and never given it a go.”

For more information about the London School of Modelling visit www.londonschoolofmodelling.com