A GLAMOROUS business studies student has proved she has beauty as well as brains by taking first place in a nationwide modelling contest.

Billie Eadie, 20, is on the path to fame and fortune after beating hundreds of other hopefuls to take the title of the People newspaper's Official Babe of 2007.

Blonde-haired, blue-eyed Billie caught the eyes of the judges after her mum submitted pictures of her holidaying in Corfu, wearing a pink bikini top and combat trousers.

Billie, of Roseberry Avenue, Benfleet, is now in line to sign a contract with modelling agency Sugarbabes, and is shortly set to jet off to sunny St Tropez, in the south of France, for a glamorous photo shoot.

She is also hoping to become a 21st century forces' sweetheart, by flying out to the Middle East later this year, along with a group of other models, to visit British troops. She said: "It was my mum's idea to enter the competition. I didn't think anything about it at the time - but I'm really glad she did it now.

"She's done me a favour.

"I was absolutely gobsmacked when I found out I'd won. I was really pleased."

Despite her new title, Billie is planning to stay on at South East Essex College, Southend, and complete her degree.

She added: "I still want to work for myself and have my own business."

Proud mum Donna Eadie, 43, said: "We were over the moon to hear she had won. I thought she looked lovely in the photos and, like a typical mum, I just thought it would be a nice thing for her to do."

"She's doing a business studies degree at the moment and has always wanted to run her own business. This was a little bit of fun."