A FORMER army cadet will be battling on a different type of warfront as she attempts to become a model.

Emily Garner, from Chelmsford, made it into the final 14 of this year’s Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model competition which aired the first episode of the ninth series on Thursday night.

The 18-year-old apprentice hairdresser had originally dreamed of being a combat medic, earning her the nickname of Combat Barbie, before discovering she had asthma, meaning she could not join the army.

However, she is now hoping to fulfill another dream by winning the contest shown on Sky Living which has a top prize of getting a contract with Models 1[COR] along with a series of model shoots.

At 5ft 8ins, Emily who describes her look as “pretty rock” is the shortest contestant in the final this year and wears a size eight dress.

Judging this year on the show will be host and former supermodel Elle Macpherson, American male model Tyson Beckford and pop mega star Dannii Minogue.