Zoe Youd La Roche is teaming science with scanties after being picked to model for a national underwear campaign.

The 41-year-old, from Chesterton, is a development editor for the science and health publisher Elsevier in Kidlington, but after buying a bra for her wedding day, she was selected to be one of six real women' modelling Bravissimo underwear in national magazines and on digital television.

She said: "Bravissimo, who have a store in Oxford, were opening a new store in London and sent out a questionnaire to all their customers asking for a picture of them to appear in a gallery in the new shop.

"I sent it back with a picture of me in my wedding dress.

"A couple of weeks later, they said they wanted me to go for a casting for an advertising campaign and although I'd never done anything like it before, I thought I'd give it a go.

"It was a bit nervewracking - posing for the camera in underwear to start with. But everyone at the shoot was so nice and really put me at ease.

"The other girls who are in the campaign: two in their twenties, two in their thirties and one other in her forties, like me, were also really nice and did normal jobs like me."

After the shoot, Mrs Youd La Roche was asked to become part of the campaign. "I was really chuffed, " she said.

"And when they said it would be on television, as well as magazine ads, I said: Why not, let's go for it'."

In the adverts, Zoe and the other women, who range from an F to H bra cup, appear in their underwear, and in some shots are seen holding up their bra sizes.

Bravissimo make D-K cup underwear, clothing and swimwear and wanted their new ad to educate women on size perception and to show how a well fitting bra should look.

Mrs Youd La Roche said: "My parents are really proud. I think the butcher, baker, everyone in their village has seen the pictures of me.

"My husband Phil is also really pleased and I think it's really boosted my confidence.

"I haven't seen the television ad on air yet, although I have a copy of it. A few of my friends have, though, and have texted me about it.

"The campaign is running until August and I think it's great that normal-shaped women are being used to model the underwear - and it's certainly nice to know that I've still got it at 41.

"I'd certainly be up for more modelling in the future. It's been great fun."