Fashionista Emily stars in big shoot

Emily Shilton, 10, could barely walk after having an operation to help her cerebral palsy in November.

But just a few short months later she was posing in front of the cameras in a fashion shoot for River Island.

Her mum Laura, 32, from Bispham,said: “It was the longest time she had been on her feet since the operation, and she breezed through it.

“They gave her two outfits to wearon the day and she had to smile and enjoy herself.

“Emily was super happy and overjoyed when she saw an advertisement on YouTube and it had her in it.”

Emily was entered in the River Island modelling competition by her parents. She was one of five lucky youngsters hand-picked from a pool of 5,000 hopefuls to take part in the ‘Kids Squad’ photoshoot in London in April.

Her snaps can now be seen online on River Island’s official website.

Laura said: “She didn’t know that we actually applied for it. It was a bit of a surprise for her.

“We feel so proud. We love the fact that she’s breaking barriers. The world is a judgemental place but we want to make it so everybody has the chance to do whatever they want.”

Emily is a pupil at Bispham Endowed Primary School.

Laura said: “It has been such a big year for her with her SATs, and this was just what she needed to give her a big morale boost.

“She loved the day and I think she would love to do it again.”