SHE's the Romsey teen hoping to become one of the most sought-after models in the country.

Olivia Wardell is one of 12 hopefuls selected to take part in television series Britain's Next Top Model - despite never taking to the catwalk before.

The 18-year-old, of Timsbury, applied for the show last year after being encouraged by boyfriend Will Brook, who believed she could win it.

On a whim, Olivia, who works at Annie's Tearoom, applied for the show and after a number of interview call-backs she received a special telephone call from judge Abbey Clancy, who gave her the great news that she was in.

"It was crazy," she said.

"When I got the call and it was Abbey Clancy, I just couldn't believe it.

"I had never done any kind of professional modelling before; when I was at Barton (Peveril Sixth Form College) my friends used me to model things for their projects, but apart from that I hadn't modelled before."

When Olivia, who is 6ft 1in, took part in the competition, she had to overcome a number of obstacles because of her height.

"I am quite tall so I do not wear heals that much," she said.

"In the first episode the judges make a comment on how I walk in heels, as I do not have that much experience in wearing them; but some of the other girls gave me tips, and that helped."

Speaking about the experience of the show, the former Romsey School student added: "For me, it was exciting but quite hard because you know you are not going to see your family for a while.

"When I met the other girls, it was intense; we were all meeting each other for the first time, but thankfully they are all really nice."

Olivia will now be vying for a place in the final of the competition; the winner receives a modelling contract and a spread within a fashion magazine and their face on the front cover.

Abbey Clancy and Paul Sculfor return as co-head judges on the show, along with esteemed fashion director and style guru Hilary Alexander OBE and celebrity photographer Nicky Johnston.

The new series, which airs on Lifetime, features some of the UK’s biggest names in fashion including Millie Mackintosh, Estee Lalonde, Savannah Miller and Matthew Williamson.

The new series begins on March 16 at 9pm, on Lifetime, available on Sky 156, Virgin 208, TalkTalk 329 and BT 329.