LEXI Johnson thought she would be spending the day persuading other girls to enter a modelling competition - she certainly didn't expect to end up winning it herself.

Lexi, 20, from Ty-Canol, Cwmbran, was doing promotional work for an energy drinks company in Weston-super-Mare, persuading girls she met on the beaches and around the town to enter a competition that night in Sands nightclub, in the town centre.

But her work-mates decided she should enter the contest - and she ended up beating 40 other girls to win a place in the national final, held last weekend in a nightclub in Newquay, Cornwall.

Lexi has entered a number of modelling competitions over the past three years, and has got into six finals since May.

Her mum, Mel, said: "She didn't win the final but she did well to get there. I think she's a bit competitioned out by now! But she may enter Miss Great Britain at the end of this month so watch this space."

Lexi has just started a four-year HND course in animal management at Usk College, but still hopes to make time for her modelling.