FOR most new mums the first months are a hectic whirlwind of nappy changing, sleep deprivation and inconvenient feeding times.

But one Scottish woman had to combine the trials and tribulations of parenthood with a new career as a top model, all at the age of 33.

Since making her debut on the catwalk, Elaine Harris has found jetting off to glamorous locations around Europe and seeing her face on the front cover of glossy magazines.

And now the Dundee woman has even been invited back to run the rule over contestants following in her footsteps at the competition which launched her career.

Ms Harris, now 36, fell into the modelling almost by accident after agreeing to pose in a wedding dress for a photographer friend's brochure.

The picture - taken with baby bump carefully concealed - proved to be a confidence booster and she entered it into the Top Model UK contest without telling anyone.

She went on to impress the judges so much she made it all the way to the finals, and was asked back this year to be one of the judges in recognition of the career she has forged since.

The former marketing manager said: "I'm not really the type of model people expect, but the work offers started coming in and I thought 'I'm only going to get a small run at this' so I didn't want to turn it down.

"But people loved the story and that led to getting more contracts for work and photo shoots, which has just kept going and going."

During the last three years the mother-of-one has debuted at London Fashion Week, appeared on magazine front covers in USA, Norway, Dubai and Canada, had her pictures used in campaigns in Europe, America and Australia and run the London marathon for Top Model to raise money for children with cancer.

The model described the experience has been "out of this world", despite the generation gap between her and the other models.

She said: "When I asked some of the other models at London fashion week if they wanted to go to the after-show parties and they couldn't because they were too young, that's when I realised a lot of them were half my age.

"When I'm with the younger models I don't feel too different to them. But what I do feel different is that I can handle being rejected at an audition much better. Modelling is quite cut-throat and I know how difficult it can be to get rejected at an audition.

"But the client is looking for something very particular, so it's not about me. But that's not something you can learn at 15 or 16-years-old."

She added: "I think that coming into modelling older has made me more resilient. I can handle being rejected. But for younger models it is hard to take and it's something which might make them give up.

"But I'm proof that you have to stick at it and the door can open at any time. You just have to follow your dream."

Ms Harris, lived for a spell in the Cape Verde islands, and is currently in the African country with her daughter Nina.

While there she supports Castelos Do Sal, a charity for 52 vulnerable children aged between 6-12 years old, bringing supplies for them from the UK.

She said: "I ran a campaign through Facebook and also through a local primary school asking for money donations and clothes. The money goes such a long way. A £5 donation gets a kid a pair of flips flops, a toothbrush, 3 pairs of pants and Easter chocolate.

"I am amazed by people's generosity and not only have I reached my target but I have managed to get a large amount of crafting stuff, Easter biscuits and Easter games for the kids. I would like to thank everyone who has helped."