A FORMER Worcester schoolgirl is climbing the ladder to fashion model stardom, having been signed by agencies in London, New York, Paris and Milan.

Emma MacLaren’s photographs modelling Marks & Spencer’s Per Una autumn/winter collection were recently displayed nationally as well as in the Worcester store.

Seventeen-year-old Emma was scouted by Models1 Agency, London, during a school trip to the Clothes Show live at Birmingham NEC four years ago.

She worked for the agency during the holidays while a pupil at St Mary’s School, Battenhall, Worcester. This year, she has taken up modelling full-time.

“I enjoy the excitement of travelling but mostly the privilege of meeting and working with so many lovely people,” she said.

Emma has already signed a fragrance contract for Cacharel perfume, taken part in London Fashion Week and appeared in shows for Top Shop.

In March, she flew to Mexico to shoot for American Glamour and then went to San Francisco to promote American Eagle’s Aerie collection. On her return in April, she travelled to Salcombe, Devon, to shoot the Jack Wills summer handbook. Since then she has appeared in editorials for numerous magazines including Marie Claire (UK), Glamour (UK and America), Harpers Bazaar (Dubai and Australia), the Times Supplement, French, Muse, Exit and L’Officiel. She has also undertaken campaigns for River Island, Oli, Asos.com, MAC Cosmetics and Emmanuel Ungaro (Paris).

During the past two months she has taken part in international catwalks for 29 designers, including Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Christian Dior, Givenchy and Nicole Farhi, sharing the catwalk with supermodels Raquel Zimmermann and Lily Donaldson.

Emma says her beauty regime is simple – she makes sure she gets lots of sleep and eats healthily and follows a strict cleansing routine morning and evening.

“I eat my five-a-day, particularly making sure I have a good breakfast. To keep my skin healthy and glowing I drink lots of water and make sure I have a balanced diet,” she said. Despite describing modelling as her “dream job” Emma says it’s not all glamour. She says that as a model you have to be prepared to work extremely hard. She credits her success with “being brought up in a Christian home, with a very loving and supportive family”, and also to the nurturing she has received from Models1 and the confidence and strong principles she gained while at school.

Emma, whose family home is in Suckley, near Worcester, featured in many musicals while a member of Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society Youth Section (WODYS) from 1999 to 2005, including Carousel, Music Man, Annie Get Your Gun and Les Miserables.