'Bullies at my Leeds school called me ugly but I proved them wrong - by becoming a model'
A Leeds woman dubbed 'ugly' by cruel bullies at school has landed a job - as a model.
Laura Shaw, 24, was taunted throughout her school years for her looks and learning disability by nasty classmates who called her "thick" and "ugly".
She said she was even told by a teacher she 'wouldn't get far' in life because of her disability
But comments only fuelled Laura to pursue a career in modelling and she’s now featured on billboards and at fashion shows.
Laura, a freelance model, said: "They called me gullible. Ugly. Thick. It's terrible. Even a teacher said I wouldn't get far in life. I'm proving them wrong. Everyone can do it - no matter what."
Laura was born with learning disabilities, meaning was late in learning to walk and struggled to chew her food until primary school.
She said she was bullied for being in a 'nurture class', which supported those with learning disabilities.
Laura said: "I got put down loads of times. It's traumatising."
She had originally wanted to get into acting but began modelling in 2020 and fell in love with it.
And she has now modelled at fashion weeks in Leeds and been to Boohoo events, but still struggles with cruel trolls telling her she is a "fake model".
She said: "I'm working hard. People say I am an inspiration. It doesn't matter your disability."
Laura still struggles with every day tasks such as bills but has a supportive family on hand. She dreams of becoming a model for PrettyLittleThing.
"That's my main goal,” she added.