A teenage boy who earned £6-an-hour working at a fish and chip shop has quit his job to become the new face of Prada - after he was talent scouted in a bookshop.
Alexander Beck worked part-time scrubbing fryers and serving food at his local Essex fish and chip shop while studying for his AS levels.
But the 17-year-old's life has been turned upside down after he was spotted by top fashion scout Cesar Perin while shopping with friends in a Cambridge bookshop.
Opportunity knocks: Alexander Beck worked part-time scrubbing fryers before he was spotted by a top fashion scout and went on to model for Prada at Milan Fashion Week last month
Just one month later Alexander, who had never modelled before, was booked by Italian fashion house Prada to model their clothes on the catwalk at Milan fashion week.
He is now being hailed as one of Britain's most promising new faces and has already appeared for YSL, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Vogue.
Alexander, who lives in Thaxted, Essex, and has just returned from modelling at Paris fashion week, had never considered becoming a model until he met Cesar.
Dream come true: Alex is now being hailed as one of Britain's most promising new faces and has already appeared for YSL, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Vogue
Alex quit his £90-a-week job at the Ocean Delight fish and chip shop where he had worked for the last two and a half years
He said: 'I was studying for my AS levels and working in a fish and chip shop, so I didn't think twice about packing it all in to become a model and travel the world.
'I used to get up 15 minutes before my school bus would leave and didn't take time over my appearance. I never thought I was good enough to be a model.
'That day in Cambridge I was about to walk out of the bookshop when Cesar shouted "stop I love your face" and came up to me.
Model looks: Alexander's scout revealed the 'exotic' teenager's face stood out from the crowd on the busy shopping day in Cambridge
'Cesar said he had never scouted anyone like that before. He was so nice and approachable - he made me feel instantly at ease.
'Looking back, I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be where I am now - walking down the catwalk.
Younger years: Alex, pictured aged 16, has left school to pursue his modelling career
'I have heard from some people that Kate Moss was at the same stage in her career at 17 as I am.'
Keen rugby and basketball player Alexander was shopping with friends at Waterstones book shop in Cambridge in December last year when he met Cesar.
Just days later he quit his £90-a-week job at the Ocean Delight fish and chip shop in Thaxted, Essex, where he had worked for the last two and a half years.
Alexander suspended his studies at Newport Free Grammar School, Essex, where he was taking AS levels in English, Physics and Critical Thinking.
The new model, who had no previous fashion experience, then posed for a series of photoshoots, which were sent to all the top international fashion houses.
He was booked by Prada to showcase their Autumn/Winter 2011 collection and appeared on the catwalk at the Milan fashion show on January 15th.
Alexander's scout and mentor Cesar, 37, revealed the 'exotic looking' teenager's face stood out from the crowd on the busy shopping day in Cambridge.
He said: 'For a first job being booked exclusively is like a golden ticket. All the labels, including, Gucci, wanted to book Alex, but Prada booked him exclusively.
'From Milan I took him to Paris where Dior were sending a car to pick him up from the airport. He opened and closed shows which is the best slot to get.
Onwards and upwards: Ocean Delight, the Fish & Chip shop in Thaxted where Alexander worked
'He is a perfect model. All the clothes fit him like a glove. It is very hard to find models as good as Alex.
'Alexander's uniqueness stood out. He is very exotic looking, with sharp cheekbones and a very symmetrical face. On top of this he has an amazing personality too.
'His strong bone structure and green eyes make him a favourite with designers.'
Alexander lives with his mother Susan, 59, a retired army nurse, father James Beck, 56, a pilot, and two older sisters Kelly and Samantha when he is in the UK.
Proud mum Susan said: 'When the fashion houses say they want him he has to go. He dropped everything and took off to Paris.
'An opportunity like this won't come up again so he had to take it. He can go back to school again later if he wants to - this might only last two years.
'I find it hard to keep track of everything he is doing, but I am so proud.'
Alexander has been signed to London agency FM and recently shot two editorials for Vogue Hommes Japan, which will be published in Spring this year.
British model Agyness Deyn, 28, shot to fame after she was discovered working in a fish and chip shop in Ramsbottom, near Manchester.