A BRIGHTON sixth-former looks set to become the next Eva Herzigova after starring in a raunchy new bra commercial.

By day Holly Willoughby, 18, is an ordinary schoolgirl in the middle of sitting A-levels in English, theatre studies and art.

But by night she hits the nation's TV screens as one of the sexy new stars of a Pretty Polly advertising campaign, so risque it has to be shown after the 9pm watershed.

Pretty Polly, anxious to get a slice of a market currently dominated by Marks & Spencer, is hoping the shapely teenager will help them get ahead in the battle of the bras.

And size 32D Holly does not beat about the bush. In one commercial she says "I am a sex goddess" and then breathes "don't squeeze them, lift them".

Holly, who is staying coy about which school she attends, said: "I'm quite surprised at how many people have recognised me. All my friends think it's a great advert.

"But everyone keeps coming up to me and saying 'don't squeeze them, lift them'. I think it's becoming a bit of a line!"

Now Holly is hoping to become the next Eva Herzigova, who shot to stardom and became a national sex symbol after starring in Wonderbra adverts which featured cheeky mottos such as "hello boys".

She said: "I hope I can be as lucky, because it's almost every girl's dream to be thrown into stardom like she was."

Holly says her parents, housewife Lynn and salesman Brian, are very proud of her achievements.

None of her teachers have made any comment - but she is not sure if that is because they are too shocked or because they have not seen the advert, which was screened for the first time on Saturday night.

Holly was selected from hundreds of hopefuls for her glamorous qualities, which Pretty Polly hopes will help promote the message that bras don't have to be boring.

Acompany spokeswoman said: "Holly was chosen because she is an extremely beautiful girl but she is also very lively, vivacious and intelligent. She is definitely a babe, but she is not just a pretty face, she has some depth.

"For a long time women have had to suffer for their underwear and what we are saying is you can look good but also be comfortable."

The commercials are tipped to become some of the sexiest ever seen on telly.

But down-to-earth Holly doesn't see what all the fuss is about and says she had no problem stripping off to her undies.

She said: "It was all very professional. At the end of the day, it's just a girl in a bra. It's quite tasteful and everything is covered up. I know it would probably have quite an effect but however you do it, lingerie is going to be sexy."

Holly added: "I had seen a video of the advert before but it's so different seeing yourself on telly. It's a wonderful feeling. It's what I have been working towards and I am really excited about what's happening to me at the moment."

The creator of the commercials, Trevor Beattie, said: "Fifty-odd years of mundane advertising has led us to this. We've deliberately smashed a few conventions, being very sexy but at the same time making people smile.

"Conventions said that bra adds on TV had to be sterile and sexless. Not any more."

Today the ambitious teenager was sitting her A-level exam in art.

She says it has been a tricky juggling act combining her hectic modelling career with her studies.

She has been modelling since the age of 15 and is currently with top London agency Storm, which has Kate Moss, Sophie Dahl and Eva Herzigova on its books.

This summer she will take a well-deserved break travelling around Europe and will then take a year out to concentrate on her modelling before going on to university.

Holly said: "I want to take modelling as far as I can but I have just got to see what happens. I will always need my education to fall back on.

"I would like to do some TV stuff and perhaps do some acting. It is quite a big thing that is happening to me at the moment and I am hopeful it will lead on to more."

Holly is the latest in a long line of beauties from Sussex who have shot to stardom by stripping off to their undies.

Hastings schoolgirl Emma Blocksage hit the limelight at the tender age of 15 when she was snapped up by international agency Elite Premier.

During one year she was reputed to have earned £60,000. Last year, she was chosen to promote a Debenhams underwear range, which included a padded plunging bra.

Glamour model Jamellah, from Hove, has graced magazines and newspapers around the world. Her career took off after she stripped off in The Sun.

And glamour model Jordan, from Brighton, became a firm Page Three favourite around the country.

Lifesize posters of Holly will be plastered over Debenhams stores throughout the country this summer as part of the Pretty Polly campaign.

The next commercial will be screened on ITV at 11.16pm this evening.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.