Looking good for top spot

Feb 19 2008 By Will Oliphant

KINGS Heath student Onyeka Nwokedi has beauty as well as brains.

Her looks have helped her reach the final of the Miss Top Model UK 2008.

The 22-year-old postgraduate toxicology student at Keeel University has been a part-time model for two years to help pay her way through her studies.

But she said if she does well in the competition she may choose to become a model full-time.

"You can only really make a career out of it if you are very successful," she said.

"But this competition is all about getting exposure to the right people so it could be an enormous help, even if I don't win.

"I've already done a few fashion shows for local designers and I was in a rock video last year, but this is the biggest thing I've done so far."

Onyeka, a former student at Handsworth Grammar School, added: "I was really pleased when they called me up to tell me I'd made it to the final.

"It's a pretty tough competition. They've already cut it down from about 500 people and at the last judging stage they reduced it from 50 to the final 27.

"But I'm excited about the competition. I wish it was going to come sooner."

The final will be held at the Porchester Hall Hotel, in London, on April 17.

For more information visit www. misstopmodel.co.uk