A former Hastings schoolgirl has overcome the odds to be a successful model in Ireland.
Frankie Sykes, 21, lived in the town with her brother Matthew, for a short time with foster carer John Malone and his then wife Julie in 1995.
The youngster has suffered from arthritis and John had to take her to and from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
But now she has battled the condition and moved to Ireland where John says she is the "talk of the Dublin modelling circuit".
Irishman John found out about Frankie's success through his sister-in-law who works as a make-up artist in the city and got talking to Frankie on a photo-shoot.
John said: "You've got to take your hat off to her. She's done very well from my point of view.
"She is the face of Arthritis Ireland, as well as being interviewed for most of Dublin and Ireland's newspapers over the last month.
"Against all the odds she has carved out a career and fought the stigma of her disability and upbringing in social care."
For more information about Frankie go to
www.frankiescott.com.
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