Michelle swaps modelling for counselling

Michelle Monroe found that life in front of the lens did not give her the confidence she wanted.

She said: “I just got lost. I looked fake and had a fake personality. That was the way I was portraying myself and it made people perceive me in a certain way. I was a nice girl but I was incredibly insecure.”

Suffering an abusive relationship and receiving counselling led her to consider a whole new career.

“Having counselling made it clear to me where I was going wrong and I knew I had to make a change. And I wanted to do something where I was helping people – something worthwhile,” she said.

Michelle, of Liversedge, said she was always interested in psychology and human behaviour.

She enrolled at Kirklees College and will graduate with a level 4 diploma in therapeutic counselling next month.

She said that going back to college was daunting at first, but ultimately gave her the confidence she found she lacked as a model.

The college will hold an open day at the Dewsbury Centre on June 21, 10.30am-1.30pm.