Catwalk dream comes true for a model citizen

EVER since she was a little girl, Harleen Kaur Nottay has dreamt of becoming a professional model.

Now, the 19-year-old from Midlothian has taken a massive step towards making her dream a reality after reaching the final 25 in hit TV show Britain's Next Top Model.

Miss Nottay, an Edinburgh-born Sikh, who was selected from thousands of women to make the final 25, has come a long way from her first audition in Glasgow in October last year, and said she still cannot believe how well she has done. The student, who is studying business management at Napier University, said: "I thought I would give it a bash and I managed to get through. I was absolutely over the moon. I was worried that I wouldn't even get through the first audition and here's me on the show."

After another round in London, which involved strutting their stuff on the catwalk and in front of the camera, the contestants took part in a lengthy interview before the final 25 were selected earlier this year.

The latest series of the show will see the group whittled down to just 14, who will take their place in the show's house to compete for a lucrative contract with a top agency. The live final will take place in October.

However, Miss Nottay remained tight-lipped on whether she was one of the final 14, before the show is aired on Living TV on Monday at 9pm.

It will show Miss Nottay battling it out in front of the camera with the other aspiring models – all selected by new host, supermodel Elle Macpherson.

Among those Miss Nottay is competing against is a London socialite and a single mother, as well as a plus-size contender.

Miss Nottay, a keen Bollywood dancer who performed at last year's Mela festival, added: "Meeting Elle was absolutely phenomenal, I still can't believe it. She's amazing and just so breathtakingly beautiful, and she's really sweet too."

Miss Nottay, lives with her mum Rashpal, brother Jaskarn, 24, and sister Raminder, 22, and is due to start the second year of her honours degree in September.

The former Beeslack High School pupil has wanted to be a model since she was young.

She said: "When I was younger, people would tell me that I had the potential to go quite far as a model."

Miss Nottay admitted it had not been easy competing on the show.

"It has been very difficult, stressful and straining.

"To win would mean the world to me, it would be all my dreams coming true. I just think from there on, my life would be set and it would be exactly how I want it to be."