A YOUNG businesswoman will be in good company this weekend when she takes her first tentative steps towards what could be a glittering career on the catwalk.

Sarah Corrie will be among 40 contestants hoping to be crowned Manchester Model Girl 2009 with the lure of a casting contract, a photo-shoot and a place in the national Miss Model Girl UK finals beckoning for the winner. And it was pure chance which propelled the 22-year-old Brandlesholme girl to the Manchester final in the city on Sunday.

Sarah said: “I was in the Trafford Centre when a modelling scout approached me and asked if I wanted to apply to enter the Manchester Model Girl competition.

“I did so and also submitted a photograph before being asked to attend this weekend’s event.”

The former Woodhey High School pupil runs her own Bury-based marketing company but is quite prepared to combine this with a career in modelling should she triumph on Sunday.

Manchester Model Girl 2009 is being organised by Model Search UK and will also be raising money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.