A TATTOO collector from Malmesbury is used to turning heads, but she is hoping her new found interest in alternative modelling will help her change the perception about the people behind body modification.

Jane Gazely, also known as Miss Sugar Rose, 44 of Katifer Lane has been collecting tattoos for the last twenty years and after getting through to the finals of the Alternative Model of the Year Competition in Newcastle she wants to challenge the stigma behind tattoos.

She said: "I have been collecting tattoos for about 20 years. I am 44 but I am quite lucky because I don't look my age and in the last ten years I have become about 80 to 85 per cent covered and I get all my work done locally in Frome and in Bath.

"I am one of those people who wants to change others beliefs of people, who are like myself and covered in tattoos. It is changing and it has changed rapidly and luckily my company don't mind how I look as long as I do my job and keep busy - in fact they are very cool with it.

"People are usually shocked when I tell them I have a good job and I own a house and I am not out there mugging old ladies every week and I like to try and spread that message! People need to realise that there is beauty in lots of different art forms including this."

As Miss Gazely had more artwork etched onto her body, her parents perceptions began to change and she said her whole family are so supportive of what she does including her more recent venture into the world of modelling and competitions.

After being encouraged to enter a competition last year, Miss Gazely began her modelling career under the name Miss Sugar Rose and has since reached the finals of the illustrious competition which will be decided at the weekend.

"The thing is they are not looking for people who are size whatever," the tattoo collector said. "It is more about how you put yourself together and how you display that lifestyle. I applied for the competition and they asked me to come to an audition in Birmingham about a month and a half ago and I was put forward for the finals.

"I am really nervous but I think it is going to be good fun and I made quite a few friends at the audition and one of the girls I met also got through so we are going to meet up."

Accompanied by her fiancee Finny Ramage, Miss Gazely will find out her fate in Newcastle on Saturday.