Lara Masters

Lara Masters is a freelance writer, actress and presenter, and the co-owner of a burlesque fashion label.

She has worked in the media for several years as the first disabled presenter in mainstream television, from the BBC's Summer Holiday through to That's Esther on ITV, which she hosted with Esther Rantzen and disabled model Heather Mills.

As a writer, she has worked in the mainstream film industry, bringing her disability knowledge to the role of script advisor for such star names as Gary Oldman and Samuel L. Jackson. She also wrote a fortnightly column for the disability website youreable.com - it was here that she modelled in, cast, styled and produced a calendar of disabled models. It gained her lots of media attention and caused a great deal of controversy in the disability community.

Lara has been an active spokesperson on disability matters both on screen and in print, discussing perceptions of disability and the social and cultural problems faced by disabled people. She has spoken about disability rights in places such as the European Parliament in Brussels, and the House of Lords.

Lara Masters is well qualified to be a judge on Britain's Missing Top Model. Not only has she worked in the modelling industry and gained personal experience of some of the difficulties the girls will face, but her mother is Debbie Moore, one of the top models of the '60s and '70s, who went on to found the famous Pineapple dance studios and fashion house.

Lara followed in Debbie's footsteps and started modelling at the age of 12, before she became disabled, but was unable to develop her career due to the difficulties posed by the onset of her disability. She's hopeful, however, that the industry is changing, and that this series will create the first successful disabled model to grace the catwalks and the covers of glossy fashion magazines.

• Ouch's 13 Questions with Lara Masters