After just missing out on pop stardom with teeny-boppers Hear'Say, Brighton belle Charlotte Gaskell is one step from fame with a men's magazine.

The 20-year-old has been voted into the final ten of FHM's High Street Honeys contest.

Charlotte, of Egremont Place, Brighton, was picked out from 100 finalists in the competition to find a cover star for the magazine.

In 2000, the former pupil of Longhill School, Rottingdean, tried out for the hit television show Popstars.

Although she made the last 33 contestants, judge "Nasty" Nigel Lythgoe said Charlotte's voice was too theatrical for the final ten - who went on to become Hear'Say and Liberty X.

She returned to the Italia Conti Academy stage school but now headlines beckon again after she made the shortlist for FHM.

Charlotte said: "I was with my dad getting some breakfast when I got the call.

"I was so happy that I was dancing around this little cafe and all these guys were asking 'What's up with her?'"

Charlotte and the nine other finalists were whisked off to Gran Canaria for a ten-day photo shoot and to record a TV programme, which will be aired on Sky 1 on December 6.

Charlotte insisted it was not just a holiday.

She said: "It was really hard work. We were split into two teams and had to do all sorts of tasks in our bikinis. We were all nervous the other girls would be bitchy and competitive but we all got on really well.

"I had my 21st birthday in Gran Canaria and they gave me a champagne breakfast and a massive chocolate cake. I had a huge party in London when I got back.

"Since we arrived home on October 23 I have been sitting around waiting for the announ-cement.

"I haven't been able to do much other modelling work but I've been doing some singing and dancing here and there."

Charlotte and the other Honeys will be appearing on GMTV, Channel 4's Ri:se programme, Radio 1 and Capital Radio this week.

Even though Charlotte has experienced the limelight before with Popstars, she said she was still unprepared for the way the FHM High Street Honeys contest had taken off.

She said: "I just saw an advert in the News Of The World, saying you could win £10,000 and a cover shoot. My friend and I were bored so we sent some pictures in."