At 1.78 metres  tall and weighing just over 50 kilograms, the elfin redhead Cole is one of the "size zero" models who some say should be banned from the shows for setting a bad example to young girls.

But the 18-year-old came up with a typically snappy answer to those questioning the slenderness of her waistline after another rapturously-received turn in the limelight: "I don't know what people are on about, I am fine as I am.

"In fact, I am going to get a drink to celebrate my performances."

Such a punchy riposte is typical of Cole, who secured a place at King's College, Cambridge, alma mater of author Zadie Smith and economist John Maynard Keynes, after scoring top grades in her final school exams.

The doll-like model studied English, drama, philosophy and history at the exclusive Godolphin and Latymer girls' school in west London, where fees are nearly 12,000 pounds (17,890 euros, 22,753 dollars) per year.

Her modelling career started when, aged 14, she was approached by a scout while walking through London's Soho district after having a burger with friends.

Thinking she was being pestered by "some dodgy guy", she ran away but was eventually persuaded to register with Storm models, which also manages Kate Moss and Cindy Crawford.

She got her big modelling break in 2003 when she appeared in a shoot by photographer Stephen Meisel for "Italian Vogue".

Cole, who is thought to have earned about ten million pounds, was named model of the year at the British fashion awards in 2004 and has appeared in advertising campaigns for designers including Prada, Chanel and Hermes.

All the while, she continued her studies and, as her contemporaries were trying to sneak into local pubs, Cole was rubbing shoulders with designers like John Galliano and catching up with homework by reading Shakespeare's Othello between photoshoots.

She has reportedly deferred taking up her social and political science place at Cambridge and is set to appear in an upcoming film by singer Marilyn Manson about Alice In Wonderland author Lewis Carroll.

Some commentators have questioned whether there would still be room on the catwalks for models as slim as Cole if restrictions which led to five models being barred in Madrid were introduced more widely.

Milan's mayor, Letizia Moratti, has said that if no reasonable solution is found to the issue, skinny models could be excluded at that city's fashion week, which started Saturday.

But the extra round of applause she received at the end of her appearances in London indicate that Cole still has plenty of supporters in the fashion world.