MEET Poppy Rivers - The Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News' very own glamour girl.

Pretty Poppy, a former St Andrew's Primary and King Alfred School pupil, is flying high as a model, regularly appearing on The Sun's famous page three slot, and various lads' magazines.

But life hasn't always been so great for 18-year-old Poppy.

In the first of an exclusive three-part interview with her favourite local paper, Poppy reveals how she has overcome the torment of playground jibes to become a nationally renowned glamour model.

POPPY moved to Burnham with her parents, sisters, and brother, aged ten.

It was while she studied for her GCSEs that the bullying started, but the defiant youngster was made of strong stuff and battled back.

She said: “I wasn't keen on school - I enjoyed learning but was bullied for being different. I didn't really know what was expected of me - wear certain clothes, think a certain way, have the same opinions as everyone else.

“Kids would shout jibes at me, mainly girls, so I just put that down to jealousy. In school I would tell all my friends I desperately wanted to be a model.

“I wasn't doubtful that I could do it. I was extremely determined. Most of the people at school thought I was a joke - this made me more determined to show them I could make something of myself.”

Eventually she left school aged 15 with no GCSEs, but didn't let that stop her as she set about realising her dream.

Poppy sent off snapshots of herself to top London agencies and was thrilled when she got letters back from some asking her to come for an interview.

One agency agreed to take her on and she started out shooting a few hair adverts but Poppy didn't mind - she was just so excited someone had shown faith in her at last.

Now aged 18, Poppy has gone from strength to strength in the modelling industry, but hasn't forgotten her roots.

She added: “I do still live in Burnham, but travel and stay over in London for work. I like living in Burnham, it's nice and calm, very different to London, and most of my family are there.

“I'm a very family-orientated person, so I don't think I could ever see myself moving to London.”

DON'T miss next week's instalment where Poppy's amazing story continues - only in the Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News.