A 19-year-old beauty from Kent, Siobhan Hustler, has been crowned the UK Model of the Year 2006.

Siobhan, from Bradstone Avenue, Folkestone, who is the reigning Kent Model of the Year, travelled to Liverpool to compete against 20 other regional hopefuls, all older and taller than her.

However, Siobhan, this year’s Miss Folkestone carnival queen, triumphed and has now won a modelling contract, a portfolio and £500.

The South Kent College student was encouraged to enter by the judges of the Miss British Isles contest. She finished fourth in that earlier this year.

She said: “I was so shocked. The girl I thought would win came second. When they said the winner had travelled all the way from Kent, I still didn’t click.

“It really is something I would like to go into, along with my acting.”