Nineteen-year-old Wut Hmone Shwe Ye doesn't see herself modelling forever.

SHE’S cute, talented and exudes that youthful radiance that every girl strives for. She’s the face of Kanebo Japan cosmetics and she’s not going to disappear anytime soon — whether she likes it or not.

Wut Hmone Shwe Ye is on the fast track to fame but frankly admits that the model life was not her first career choice.

“To be honest, I would rather be studying abroad,” she said, sneaking a quick glance at her mother on the other side of the room. “I will keep modelling until my family lets me go.”

The 19-year-old model was discovered by Kanebo when she was studying English at Yangon University in 2005.

“My uncle works for the company and thought I might have a talent for photo modelling,” said Wut Hmone Shwe Ye.

With a little push from her parents she jumped in and discovered a love of being in front of the camera.

“So far I’ve only modelled for the camera; I don’t do catwalks. I’m not interested but I’ve promised Kanebo I would think about it.”

Wut Hmone Shwe Ye’s less than conventional attitude towards modelling spills over into her personal life. She isn’t like most other Myanmar girls, or any girls for that matter. Instead of watching her weight and eating sensibly to stay slim, she’s struggling to put weight on.

“I would love to look like Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Alba or Angelina Jolie,” she said sheepishly.

The voluptuous frame she longs for could be a reality for the model, who, though petite, still sports a more shapely, curvaceous figure than the average Myanmar woman.

Nevertheless she visits the gym regularly to practice weight training in order to beef up her slight arms and thighs, much to the distress of her mother, who favours a more traditional look.

Despite her Myanmar heritage, advertisers like her look because she appears more Korean, a look that they believe sells more products in Myanmar.

So what does the future hold in store for the little lady with big dreams?

For the time being Wut Hmone Shwe Ye is keeping her options open. She refuses to sign contracts, preferring to go freelance in the hope that she will one day get her wish to study abroad.