Fashion finalist Emma Grainger beat off competition to win a coveted catwalk runway slot during the famous Graduate Fashion Week in London and showcased her work at the Battersea Park Arena in front of celebrity judges including Posh Spice, shoe guru Jimmy Choo as well as some of the UKs leading fashion companies.

Emma, 21, of Battle Green, Epworth, was among a handful of students from Leicester's De Montfort University who impressed the show's selection panel enough to be invited to the event, which previously launched the careers of household names Stella McCartney and Julien MacDonald.

Top designer Karen Millen, who was on the selection panel, was very impressed with Emma's eye-catching red tailored womenswear and helped her choose the six outfits modelled on the catwalk.

Said Emma: "I think Karen liked my designs because they're in a similar style to hers but maybe with a more high street feel. I have taken inspiration from my favourite label Comme des Garcons and from menswear so the collection includes tailored trousers, tuxedos and cropped jackets but all with a contemporary design and an intricate twist."

Emma admitted to doing a little extra research to make sure she was selected: "When I found out Karen Millen was on the panel, I did have a sneaky look at her clothes to see what styles she tends to favour."

Emma said she has loved fashion since early childhood when she enjoyed spending hours playing at dressing-up. But it was while studying for her GCSE's in design and art that the former pupil of Hayfield School in Auckley decided she wanted to turn her love of clothes into a career.

Said Emma: "I am quite tall for a girl at 5ft 11ins and I found it a nightmare trying to find clothes that fitted. I decided I was going to do something about it and learn to make my own clothes under my own label."

Although she did not know how to use a sewing machine, Emma begged her mum to let her switch schools to attend sixth-form at Danum School so she could take A-Level textiles.

She soon learned to stitch thanks to extra after-school teaching from Danum's textile teacher, Mrs Spain, and after passing her A-Levels, was accepted onto the fashion course at De Montfort where she studied all aspects of fashion from men's tailoring to bra and corset making.

Emma is now an accomplished seamstress and stylist, stitching all her designs herself except for a special pair of high-waisted trousers which were made by a London tailor.

Making the collection, which counts towards her degree, has been expensive in time and money and has left her exhausted but optimistic.

"I've been working 21-hour days to get ready for the show and it's cost me £1,300 so far in fabrics and labour but I have used pure Italian silk chiffon and 100 per cent cashmere in the clothes. Although I don't have a job lined-up yet I'm hoping someone at the show recognises my talents and gives me an opening." said Emma.

She added: "Victoria Beckham said her reason for judging was so she could learn more about fashion! She has her own fashion label. But soon, hopefully, so will I."