A BUDDING model had a shock after seeing photos from her first professional shoot in a High Wycombe shop window today.

Four-year-old Freya Howlett beat off competition from thousands of wannabe models to win a contract with clothing retail giants Next.

And today the Totteridge youngster saw the shots of herself for the first time in her home town's branch of Next, in the Eden shopping centre.

Mum Penny said Freya was “really excited and really proud of herself” after seeing the pictures.

She said: “She didn't know what she was going down there for. She knew she was having her photo taken but not why.

“Her jaw dropped, then she said, 'I'm so proud mummy, that's me'.

“She's been on the website as well to see herself.”

Judges picked Freya as the winner after taking part in modelling activities, photo shoots and a dance workshop at Woburn Abbey near Milton Keynes.

Penny said: “We went there not expecting to win, we went just to have a nice day. We were really shocked when she won.”

Freya won a modelling contract with agency Urban Angels and will star in the 2010 Next Directory, as well as appearing on the front of Next stores across the country from the end of January.

Asked if her daughter has any plans to be a full-time model in the future, Penny said: “If she gets more things to do and still enjoys it, she can do it. As long as she's having fun and getting all the attention she's fine with it.”