A LAST-minute role standing in for a model who had not turned up led to a deal with a London agency for a county student.

Cara Kealy, 19, from Woodstock has been snapped up by Genesis Talent Management (GTM) thanks to her involvement with last month’s Oxford Fashion Week.

She said: “I was meant to help as an assistant on a shoot for the stylist Katie McNeil, who directed the Concept Show at Oxford Fashion Week.

“But then one of the models didn’t turn up so I was put in front of the camera instead.

“The photographer said I should try GTM and passed on my pictures to the agency.”

The 5ft 11in second-year fashion student at the City of Oxford College now has a two-year deal with the agency, which has Great Britain’s Miss Universe 2013 representative Amy Willerton and presenter Olivia Cox on their books.

She is making her first steps into commercial fashion, with her week already taken up with castings.

The former Woodstock Primary School and Marlborough School pupil added: “It’s still early days. I’ve got college until June, and then I was going to go to Middlesex University, but I think I’ll play it by ear and see how much modelling work I get. I’m looking forward to seeing how it pans out.”

Asked whether she was apprehensive about the industry’s pitfall, she said: “The really good thing about GTM is they’re really into health and going to the gym and eating healthily, rather than not eating at all.”

She said: “I’ll be doing things like bridal shoots and lingerie shoots.

“I love lingerie shoots, I feel like it gives you a lot of self-esteem and builds your confidence.”

Fashion Week director Carl Anglim said: “She really shone, I’m not surprised that she’s been signed.”