IF any Colchester bride ought to look good in her wedding pictures it is Jade Cartwright.

After 19 years of magazine photoshoots the world over, the town’s very own former Page 3 girl is tying the knot on September 5.

Jade, 36, says she’s head-over-heels in love with Layer-de-la-Haye businessman Darren Pye.

And far from disapproving of her future daughter-in-law, Darren’s mum once tried to bring the pair together.

Jade said: “Years ago, I was in a pub called the Donkey and Buskins, having a drink with an old friend, and Darren was there with his parents. He said to his mum ‘that’s the kind of girl I want’ and she offered to have a word with me for him.

“He asked her not to, as he thought me and the male friend I was with might be a couple, but she was all for it.”

Then, three years ago, Darren met Jade a second time, on a blind date at the Fox pub, in Layer. He walked her home in the early hours. Later that day, she paid Darren a visit – and never left.

Jade said: “Gradually, more of my things kept appearing here, like my hairdryer and so on, until I was living here full-time.

She added: “I fell in love with him straight away on that first date. I knew he was the one.

“He’s quite a powerful man, but very sensitive and he dotes on me. He’s everything I could ever imagine from a husband.”

Jade’s life of domestic bliss in north Essex with Darren, 38, who runs Alpha Print on Hythe Hill, Colchester, is in stark contrast to her jet-set past.

She was a 17-year-old art and design student from Lexden when friends encouraged her to pose for a port-folio, Jade went on to win a modelling competition and signed to a top London agency. At 5ft 7ins she was on the short side for fashion work, so she decided to try glamour modelling.

She said: “After I started doing Page 3, it really took off. I did Maxim, Loaded, calendars, the lot. I was a bit short for fashion but I was taller than most of the girls doing glamour, so I ended up as one of the top models.

“I travelled the world doing everything from Page 3 to Vogue and had a great life out of it.”

Jade retired from Page 3 in 2002, but continues to model – she is currently the face of a jewellery range.

She said: “There’s more to modelling than just the way you look.

“It’s a bit like acting. You have to put over a certain mood – people say I look different in every picture.

“I love doing it. I want to carry on modelling into old age, advertising wrinkle creams and incontinence pants!”

In the more immediate future, Jade is more concerned with her hen party – a trip to Brighton this weekend – and of course, the September wedding at Layer-de-la-Haye’s St John the Baptist Church.

Jade says she’s really excited about joining Darren’s family.

She said: “The funniest comment I’ve heard was from his nan.

“I told her what I did for a living and she said, ‘it’s amazing what they can do these days with make-up and lighting’.

“I must have been having a bit of an off-day!”