A Bermudian model has appeared as the cover girl in the Mexican edition of the world's biggest fashion magazine.

Aliana King features on the front of Elle's April edition for the Latin American country — but she almost missed the job because of other work commitments.

Ms King, 19, was in Sweden on a fashion shoot when she got the call about the job for Elle, scheduled to be shot in New York.

She said: “I was doing a job in Sweden right before the photoshoot so I wasn't even sure if I was going to be able to be back for it.

“As soon as I left my job in Sweden I got to the airport, flew all night, got to New York in the morning and went straight to my job from there.

“It took a lot to make it happen.”

Ms King, who lives in New York, said that her appearance in a prestige magazine such as Elle was a great career booster, but it is the latest in an impressive list of achievements.

She added she had already featured in fashion giants Vogue and Marie Claire, and now had the last of the big four magazines, Harper's Bazaar, in her sights.

But Ms King said she might never have made it in an industry dominated by taller women because she is only 5ft 4in.

She explained: “Although I am proportionate to a taller model there are many different things in the job that I can't do as well because of my height.

“I'm not saying that I have any less talent — it has to do with the sizing of the clothes and not being able to look the same in photos when compared to the other models.”

But Ms King said her star role in Elle Mexico showed she could compete in the tough world of international modelling.

She added: “I always knew that if I was going to do this then I had to put everything I had into it and push as hard as I could.

“It's definitely happening very fast, but I didn't expect anything less.”

Ms King said that she hoped to bring a modelling agency to Bermuda.

She wants to scout Bermuda talent to thank the island for its support. Ms King added: “The amount of people that congratulate me and recognise me in my own country is amazing and I really feel the love and support.

“It doesn't matter how much I do or how far I go, I always get the most support from my own country.

“That feels absolutely amazing.”