An aspiring model aiming to wow Elle Macpherson on a top talent show says being kicked out of her home at 15 helped her.

Wallington's Lauren Lambert, 23, is now one of the favourites to win in the new series of Sky show Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model, but just a few years ago she was sleeping rough after being kicked out of her home following a row with her family.

Miss Lambert said: "I argued a lot with my siblings. Me and my brother had a fight and my mum kicked me out. I kept going to school but it really messed with me at the time, I was really unsettled.

"But it really made me stronger. Having to go through that so early gave me an understanding of how to stand on my own two feet and now I'm glad that I had to go through it.

"There was a time when I resented my mum but I've learned to forgive. You shouldn't hold animosity against anyone, especially your mum. She gave me life and without her I wouldn't have accomplished what I have."

Miss Lambert, who was born in St Lucia and moved to the borough when she was 10, is one of the finalists in the competition meaning she takes part in weekly televised modelling challenges as the contestants fight to impress judges Elle Macpherson and Danniii Minogue to stay in the show and, hopefully, win a modelling contract.

She added: "The whole experience is out of this world. I'd never have done anything like this if I wasn't on the show. It's everything I dreamed of doing, what I wanted to do my whole life.

"Because of my height, I'm 6ft 1in, I've always had a bit of a challenge, it's a stumbling block as most models are 5ft 9in to 5ft 11in. This show has given me a chance. I'm the tallest in the competition but I'm confident with my height and I have self belief."

Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model is on Sky Living on Thursdays at 8pm.