A REDDITCH teenager has proved her face could be her fortune after securing a place in the national final of a hotly contested model competition organised by a high street retailer.

Victoria James, 18, of Brockhill, has beaten off competition from hundreds of would-be catwalk queens to secure a place in the final of Miss Selfridge 2005.

Victoria impressed a team of talent scouts from Premier Model Management in the fashion chain's London store last month.

They were looking for a fresh face to represent the brand.

She is among just 12 finalists from the UK who will strut their stuff in Leeds tonight.

Today, she has been learning how to work the catwalk, will be given a make-up master class and will have her hair styled by Tony & Guy before tonight's final show.

Victoria, who is studying marketing management and Spanish at Coventry University, said: "I'd thought about modelling before and applied to an agency but they said I didn't have quite the right look for them.

"After that, I forgot about the idea until shopping with my mum in London and I saw the competition taking place in the store.

"I didn't really have much time to think about it, I just went for it, not even considering whether I stood a chance or not.

"I then received a call recently saying I'd reached the final.

"I'm thrilled but nervous," she added.

Among the prizes, the winner will appear in young women's glossy B Magazine, enjoy a new £500 Miss Selfridge wardrobe and will be taken on the books of Premier, the agency which represents supermodels Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington.