AN OVERJOYED model is in high spirits after she attended Royal Ascot’s ladies day and scooped a number of best-dressed awards from national media outlets.

Full-time model, Kimberley Jackson, from High Street, Exmouth, was asked to wear a hat made by Italian designer Ilda DiVico at the prestigious event last Thursday, June 17.

The 23-year-old, who said she attracted the attention of around 17 paparazzi photographers, was commended by the Sun newspaper as being an elegant model.

She was awarded the best worn hat prize from the Times and the best in show from The Daily Mail for being an appropriate model to show off the head gear.

Kimberley, who spent most of the day in the royal enclosure, said: “I had a brilliant time. My phone has kept ringing after all the media attention I received.

“Ilda DiVico is a big, well-known hat designer so it was a privilege to wear her clothing.”

Kimberley said she brushed shoulders with a number of celebrities throughout the day including Bruce Forsyth and Joan Collins.

A picture of the former Exmouth Community College student was shown on the front page of The Times after her appearance at Royal Ascot.

She added: “I was not expecting to be on the front page at all. My parents are very proud of me, though, my dad isn’t aware of what happened at Royal Ascot because he’s away at the moment.”

Kimberley starred in a televised fashion show last February at an event held in London to raise money for the Haiti earthquake appeal.

Her proud mum, Daryl Jackson, said: “I am really proud of her. As a youngster she was the biggest tom boy you would ever meet.

“She used to run around with baggy trousers and T-shirts. She’s always had legs that seem to go on forever and we would often say that she should become a model.”