Emma: I'm doing this for Essex girls

2:00am Tuesday 5th February 2008

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IS Emma Fletcher your Face for England?

The former Clacton girl is in the running for a national competition to find one man and one woman to represent the country.

Aimed at finding real people to work as models, the competition promotes a healthy body image and more achievable look than the size zero phenomenon of recent years.

Emma, 30, is a mortgage broker who was born and bred in the coastal town, attending Bursville Primary and Clacton County High school.

She is seeking your support for the contest, in which £20,000 worth of prizes are up for grabs, including a modelling contract and a holiday.

"I've been offered modelling work before, but I went down the academic route," said Emma, who lives in London but whose mum still lives in Clacton.

"I did my A levels at Colchester Institute and then English with journalism at university.

"The reason I'm doing the competition is to support women in business, especially in male-dominated professions. Many pretty girls are encouraged to model, rather than obtain support to follow an academic career."

Emma, who previously worked at the Woolwich Call Centre in Clacton, was also chosen to be a finalist in the Miss British Isles competition in 2006, but had to miss out as she was abroad.

Now she is counting on votes to get her through the London heat in August to the finals.

"Essex girls get a hard time so I'm doing it for them too," she added.

If you would like to show your support, text FACE LONDON 217 and send to 82085. Texts cost £1 per message plus your standard network rate.

Some of the money raised will go towards the Rainbow Child Foundation for underprivileged and sick children.

For more information, visit faceforengland.com or see emmafletcher.co.uk