A BRAINY beauty has defended modelling for lads' magazines following a bid in Parliament to class them as pornography.

Serena Kamber hit out after Crosby MP Claire Curtis-Thomas called for publications like FHM and Zoo to be put on the top shelf of newsagents out of the reach of children, branding them as 'degrading to women'.

But Serena, a part-time model who comes from Little Neston, said: 'They should not be put on the top shelf. I feel like I'm a role model for young women.

'I use modelling as an asset. It is not degrading at all. Pictures of women in bikinis in FHM are no different than what you'd see on the beach.'

The 25-year-old modelling part-timer, who works as a biomedical scientist, has already appeared in a two-page spread in FHM entitled It's Your Scientist, in which she told readers about her glamour role and day job at Liverpool's Walton Centre.

Serena, now living in Bebington and due to move to Spital soon, is also appearing in that magazine's August edition - which is its 200th.

'I like both jobs because it shows people that I'm versatile. I love the modelling shoots,' she said.

Serena, who has both a Bachelors and a Masters degree in biomedical science, only got into modelling a year ago.

She said: 'I'd finished the degrees so just wanted to do it. I joined a model agency in London. It went from there.

'I started doing commercial work like trade magazines, adverts in newspapers and magazines, fashion in catalogues and lingerie.

'I've also done an Internet advert for P&O and appeared in Zoo and Nuts.

'My family are proud of me. I want to continue this and make some money for when I get married and have children.'