Monday 16th October 2006 Alexandra Ellis interviewed by ITV News

Today ITV News were at Carmel College to interview Alexandra Ellis about her recent success in the world of modelling. Alexandra, 15, will appear at the Miss Teen British Isles contest in Liverpool at the end of the month.

At the age of 12 she was diagnosed with an atrial septal defect - a hole in the wall of the two upper chambers of the heart. Doctors told her parents, Barbara and Mark, that surgery was needed. After missing months of school and undergoing two operations, Alexandra, of Staindrop, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, is finally getting her life back on track.

She has signed up with a modeling agency run by Debbie McGee, the wife of Teesside-born magician Paul Daniels.

Alexandra, who has three older sisters, recently travelled to London for a professional photo shoot.

After deciding to enter the Miss Teen British Isles competition last month, she was delighted to learn that she had been selected from more than 4,000 teenagers nationwide for the finals.

"I just thought I would have a go. I didn't really think I would make it to the finals. But it's really exciting that I've got there, and I'm looking forward to it," said Alexandra, who is studying for her GCSEs here at Carmel College.

"When I was ill I was so concerned making sure I was getting better, all I could think about was the present, I couldn't really think about my future.

"This is the first term since I was diagnosed that I've been able to have a normal school life."

Her mother, Barbara, said: "She was always quite weak and when she did any sport she became breathless very easily. At first we were told it might be a heart murmur or asthma.

"It was devastating for the whole family when we found out what was wrong with Alexandra."

"We were told that the pressure that was being exerted on her lungs meant they were ready to collapse. I suppose we should be thankful that it was diagnosed when it was, because it could have been much worse.

"She had the operation in the September and by the following January, she had shot up two inches - she was a different girl."

Alexandra, who wants to pursue a career in modelling, will take part in the contest with 30 other teenagers on October 29.

The interview will be shown tonight at 6.30pm on ITV 1.

To view a gallery of images taken during filming click here