Model back on catwalk after attack threatened to end her dreams

A MODEL who was scarred for life and blinded in one eye following a horror glassing attack has battled back to land herself a place in a prestigious beauty competition.

&149 The attack left Jo Minto needing 35 stitches to her face; below, Jo hopes to return to modelling

Jo Minto needed 35 stitches in her face after a pint glass intended for a man sitting next to her smashed in her face as she sat chatting to friends in a pub in 2007.

The attack left Jo with tiny shards of glass embedded in her eye, and she soon decided to quit the catwalk and concentrate on her career with British Gas.

But the brave 23-year-old decided to give modelling one more shot last year after receiving encouragement and support from her family and friends.

And now she is tipped to land the Miss Edinburgh title as she lines up against nine other hopefuls at a star-studded event tonight at the city's Pleasance Theatre.

Jo said: "I'm just so excited to be back. I've had so much support from everyone around me and that was the reason I decided to try modelling again.

"It's been a long, tough road to go down but I finally feel I am totally over the attack.

"At the time I had just done some major modelling work for Diesel and my career was on the brink of taking off.

"But after seeing my face all scarred I just felt I couldn't carry on.

"I'm just loving being part of it all again, and if I win then great, but what I've been through really puts everything into perspective."

Tonight's Miss Edinburgh 2011 event consists of four rounds, including casual wear, evening wear, swim wear and a charity round where the contestants must choose an item of clothing from a charity shop.

The evening, which features ten contestants, is to be hosted by the reigning Miss Edinburgh, Fiona Dickie.

Jo was on the brink of a blossoming career when Alexander Varndell threw a glass at a man sitting next to her in a pub in Tranent, East Lothian, in February 2007.

The aspiring model, who was left partially blind and needed 35 stitches in her face, was forced to endure painful plastic surgery as doctors spent four days removing all the tiny pieces of glass from her face and eye.

"I couldn't look at myself in a mirror for ages afterwards, and when eventually I did I just burst into tears," added Jo.

"But, all that is in the past and I'm just looking forward to resurrecting my career."

Alexander Varndell was sentenced to two years for the glass attack on Jo following a trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

The attack took place at the New Plough Inn, Tranent, East Lothian, on February 8, 2007, and Varndell admitted culpable and reckless conduct.