Beauty Emma Blocksage has been chosen to promote the store's Ultimate underwear range.

But sadly for her fans, her body will not be seen in the stores.

Her assignment was strictly to launch the range which includes a plunging padded bra.

The platinum blonde 18-year-old, a former pupil at Helenswood School in Hastings, works through the Elite Premier model agency and is one of the most sought-after models in the world.

She was plucked from obscurity in April 1994 after winning a beauty contest staged by the Bexhill and District Diabetic Group.

She was spotted by Martin Robinson, of Martin Enterprises modelling agency, who said: "I saw her walking around the foyer of the De La Warr Pavilion and knew that one day she would be a supermodel."

Emma was one of 20 models to appear in the 1996 Hastings Babewatch calendar, designed to promote the town.

She scooped a modelling contract when she beat 11 other hopefuls to win Elite's Look Of The Year contest in 1995.

Emma earned £60,000 the following year and visited cities and countries including South Korea, New Zealand, New York, Paris, Milan and Rome.

But despite being advised to leave Hastings for London, she vowed not to turn her back on the town where she grew up.

Emma told the Argus: "I've got myself a brilliant home in Hastings and made loads of new friends.

"I miss my family when I'm travelling and I end up being on my own a lot. I live in Hastings between assignments.

"Both my parents travelled with me when I started out. My mum is very encouraging and she doesn't treat me any differently now than when I was at school."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.