Big Brother star Chantelle Houghton opens Canterbury's new La Senza store in the Whitefriars with manager Anneliese Singfield. Picture: Chris Davey.

by Adam Williams

Big Brother star Chantelle Houghton cut the pink ribbon to open Canterbury’s new La Senza store on Thursday.

The busty blonde ex-housemate chatted and signed autographs for shoppers at the ladies underwear and lingerie store in the Whitefriars.

Fans Jamie Punyer, 17, Claire Berner, 21, and Maurica Wallace, 19, were among the first to meet her. The Canterbury College beauty therapy students queued for more than half an hour with around 100 shoppers.

Maurica, from Canterbury, was overwhelmed at meeting her.

She said: “She was really nice to meet and a good laugh too. We’re big fans and it’s really nice to see her in Canterbury.”

Employing more than 20 full-time staff, the store replaces shoe shop Cube, which closed down in summer 2009.

Store manager Anneliese Singfield, 27, has more than 15 years experience in retail, including managing Canterbury’s Monsoon store in The Buttermarket.

She said: “Chantelle has done quite a lot of modelling for La Senza and has opened some other new stores around the country, so it’s great to have her here today.

“We’ll be appealing to quite a young market from 16 upwards, but there’s a new concept in La Senza in this store. There’s a few more colours and lines on offer than some of our traditional products haven’t had before.”

See more pictures in next week's Kentish Gazette.