Unfortunately, those who have modelling potential at a young age are quite often teased for their unusual beauty – whether that’s being tall, having big lips, or in Jade Thompson’s case, being freckly – before they’re discovered.

As was the case with Lindsey Wixson and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, the 20 year old Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model winner recently revealed that she too was bullied at school for her strikingly different looks, being called names such as ‘freckle face’ and ‘ginger nut’.

Thompson told The Manchester Evening News that she spent years feeling unconfident in her appearance, wishing she didn’t look so unique.

Luckily for the stunning model, the tables have most certainly turned as Thompson’s red hair, freckle-heavy face and mixed race – that all once appeared an obstacle – have now become her biggest assets.

“I spent years wishing I didn’t have a face full of freckles and ginger hair until I suddenly realised I couldn’t change it so I needed to learn to live with it,” Jade told The Manchester Evening News.

“It wasn’t just that I had red hair and freckles. I’m also mixed race and I’d get people saying ‘what are you?’ If I can reassure young people who look like me, or come from a similar racial background to feel happier about themselves that would be great.

“My advice to them is believe in yourself, not to listen to what others say and to go for it whatever your ambition in life,” she added.

Thankfully, Thompson listened to her own advice and took a chance at becoming a model. Now a confident working model, the stunning beauty looks set to build up an extremely impressive modelling portfolio with her competition prizes including a modelling contract with a well known modelling agency, the cover of Company magazine and a contract with Miss Selfridge.

We at Models Direct, a modelling agency known for supporting diversity in the modelling industry, are very happy to see that Thompson is showing being different can be a good thing, as she paves the way for more unconventional looking girls to follow their dreams of becoming a model.