A MOTHER who was told by doctors she would never walk unaided has made her debut as a catwalk model after winning a makeover.

Emily Ryde was the star of the show before a pampering evening held at Shottle Hall, Belper, on her 24th birthday.

The single mum-of-one was born with spina bifida and scoliosis, which meant her spine was curved at a 45-degree angle and her right leg was five inches longer than her left.

She was also diagnosed as suffering from a club foot, which resulted in her left leg being twisted towards the right, forcing it to rest on her stomach.

Emily has undergone five vital operations to straighten and lengthen her legs, including major spine surgery to fix the curvature to a four-degree angle – her earliest operation being at just five days old.

Although Emily has no movement in her left foot, she now only needs to wear a two-inch raise in her shoe to balance the difference.

The makeover competition, organised by Shottle Hall, invited people to nominate someone they thought deserved a day of pampering.

Emily was nominated by her mum, Judith, and one week later Emily was walking up the catwalk alongside other professional models in front of more than 70 people.

Emily, of Town Street, Holbrook, said she could not believe it when she found out she had won.

She said: "I never thought I stood a chance. I had a really lovely day and it was such a coincidence that it happened to fall on my birthday.

" I have spent a lot of my life in hospital but you just deal with it. I'm lucky in lots of other ways and try really hard not to moan.

"I was brought up to believe that there is no such word as 'can't'. Doctors said I would never walk but I proved them wrong.

"I'm living proof that it is mind over matter – I would really like to give people hope that you can do anything you set your mind to."

Emily spent the afternoon being pampered at Bracken-dale Spa, near Carsington, before having her hair and make-up professionally applied by Emma O'Regan, of Make-up Artist Midlands.

Emily Bridgen, of Iron Gate, provided Emily with a designer outfit to wear on the evening catwalk and watching as part of the audience were proud parents Judith and David.

Judith, of Westley Crescent, Little Eaton, said: "Emily is a daughter in a million who has endured a lot of surgery throughout her life and never, ever complains.

"She is registered disabled but doesn't let anything hold her back.

"She just gets on with life, working full-time as a dog trainer and bringing up her lovely little boy.

"She rarely has time to go out and enjoy herself and she really, really deserved this special treat."

Shottle Hall marketing manager James Davis said: "We were delighted that Emily enjoyed her day of pampering – she was certainly a very worthy winner.

"I think all the ladies who joined us for the pampering evening were amazed by Emily's courage. Walking down a catwalk is a daunting prospect for anyone and Emily was an absolute star."