MODEL Karen McKay is lending maximum support to a new strapless bikini.

The 27-year-old from Ainsworth is at the forefront of a promotional campaign for the Demikini, which suddenly thrust her into the international spotlight.

Karen started modelling for fashion firm OTT a year ago after founder Jill Silver from Cheshire came up with the idea of a bikini top held up with glue.

To perfect the shape of the novel design, Karen was asked to stand for fittings.

Since then, work to sell the idea has included a fashion shoot on London's Kings Road and a TV slot for Channel 4's Richard and Judy show.

The product went on sale last week and pictures of Karen, a part-time hairdresser at J.J Barbers in Ramsbottom, have appeared across the globe.

She said: "We didn't expect it to take off in such a big way, but we have been in newspapers all over the world.

"My cousin rang up from America to tell me that I had been on television over there, which was amazing.

"It looks as though this is something that women really want, and it's all very exciting."