Every young girl dreams of being picked out by modelling scouts for a life of fame and glamour on the catwalk but for Sasha Hardway it seemed unlikely to ever come true.

The graphic art student, from Brighton, has never fitted into the stereotype of the leggy clothes horse and never will.

Disabilities have left her constrained to a wheelchair for most of her life.

But this month, against all of the odds, her dreams of appearing on the catwalk came true.

Sasha became one of the star turns of this year's London Fashion Week, featuring in a show modelling outfits specifically designed for wheelchair-bound women.

Her appearances in the show, which the organisers of the capital's annual event refused to officially back, gained her attention throughout the media.

Sasha modelled a collection designed by Amelia Ursache intended not only to look good but made in ways that are practical and comfortable for women in wheelchairs to wear.

The model, who has also featured in a critically acclaimed film called Special People, said: "The clothes are stylish, lightweight and easy to put on. I found the clothes easy to move in and that they stayed in place whilst sitting down.

"I'm pleased to see a designer who has given consideration to wheelchair users and designed clothes to fulfil our needs with style and elegance".

Louisa Summerfield, the managing director of WheelieChix-Chic, which has produced the range, said: "Amelia's designs are an inspiration. They are ultra feminine, chic yet sexy and when you enter a room you won't be remembered because of your wheelchair but for the clothes you wear and the confidence you exude."

She described the collection as a unique fashion concept and explained that the clothes were specifically tailored to flatter women's bodies while sitting.

Mrs Summerfield said the British Fashion Council had turned down her application to stage a show as part of the main fashion week events.

She said: "I took our designs to them thinking they would jump at the chance for us to exhibit on the catwalk but when our application was unsuccessful I just knew the show still had to go on and so I set about organising our own fashion show.

"I'm a wheelchair user myself and I'm sick and tired of making do with conventional high street fashion. I'm a big believer in that fashion should be for everyone and not just the standing up body beautiful."

The show, hosted by comedy actress Jan Ravens, was considered a great success, contributing hundreds of pounds to the charity Motability.