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MIDLANDS TO MILAN

GCSE student, 15, will spend half-term modelling at Fashion Week after her mum bagged her a spot by emailing a designer

A teenager who dreams of becoming a fashion designer is flying off to Milan to model for an up-and-coming Manchester designer

IT MAY be the dream of some teenagers to walk the catwalk, but for one teen from Worcestershire, her dreams have been made reality.

Olivia Forsbrook is just 15-years-old, and is jetting off to Milan Fashion Week during half term to model for up-and-coming designer Chanel Joan Elkayam.

 Olivia Forsbrook is just 15-years-old
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Olivia Forsbrook is just 15-years-oldCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

The student broke into modelling eight months ago, but has already appeared at London Fashion Week, and made it into the finals of Top Model UK.

Her mother, Joanne Forsbrook, 52, then sent an email to Manchester based designer Chanel Joan Elkayam and received a reply that evening, inviting her to Milan to showcase her designs.

Olivia didn’t even need to attend a casting, as her mum Joanne sent through head shots and videos from LFW, which wowed the designer.

The mum-of-five was surprised to receive the speedy reply, saying: “We couldn't believe it, we're really chuffed with how it’s taken off.“

 Her mum, Joanne, wrote a letter to designer Chanel Joan Elkayam to recommend her daughter
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Her mum, Joanne, wrote a letter to designer Chanel Joan Elkayam to recommend her daughterCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
 Olivia posing on a shoot in London
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Olivia posing on a shoot in LondonCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
 Olivia dreams of becoming a fashion designer
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Olivia dreams of becoming a fashion designerCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
 The stylish teenager will head to Milan Fashion Week later this month
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The stylish teenager will head to Milan Fashion Week later this monthCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

The teen, who is currently studying for her GCSEs says: 'It’s been an absolute whirlwind.I didn't really expect anything from it. I'm really excited to be going to Milan Fashion Week.”

Her mother says that Olivia has always loved modelling from a young age: “It was when she was quite young, probably 12, when she had her first photo-shoot and she started to get really into it.”

“She's been fashion-centric since she was young, it's what she loves. She's very grounded, she's a good girl and everything you want in a daughter.”

Olivia was signed to the London modelling agency BAME in June last year, while studying at Droitwich High School.

 The teen is also studying for her GCSEs, alongside her modelling
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The teen is also studying for her GCSEs, alongside her modellingCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

Joanne is thrilled for her teenage daughter, and says that she will support her daughter to follow her dreams.

“I'm really proud of her, we will always be with her all the way, if she needs to go anywhere for a shoot we will take her. The whole family is proud of her.”

“Her father Mark is really supportive, if she need to be anywhere in country he will get her there, he's just really proud of her.”

Olivia is also hoping to pursue a career in fashion design, and is going to study textiles at sixth form, and her mum adds: “She's just really dedicated to what she wants to do.”

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