A MUM and former beauty queen is stepping up in her fight against sexual exploitation.

Christine Gregory, a former pole-dance fitness instructor and finalist of the Miss British Empire beauty pageant, says parents and young girls can be lured into modelling and run the risk of being sexually exploited by predatory online agencies.

She said girls can often be given the chance to create a portfolio of photographs, but sometimes this doesn’t lead to any work and is used as a gateway into more revealing and exploitative offers.

She told the Adver: “I’ve looked into what other modelling agencies are doing and I understand that risk is there.

“People who say they are modelling agencies are actually closer to the sex industry.

“Websites that look like they are modelling companies want to get young girls into webcam work.

“Then you are more at risk of going into prostitution.”

She is urging parents to check with photographers to make sure they have a Disclosure and Barring Service check, which flags up previous convictions, and to ask if they have safeguarding and human trafficking procedures in place before signing any kind of modelling contract.

The mum of four has been a big advocate for more stringent rules to stop exploitation in the adult entertainment industry – something she has heard about first hand – and has met with her MP, Robert Buckland.

But as well as changing the industry itself, she has called for more education and awareness of both girls and boys, starting at school and continuing for the over-18s at college.

“At there moment there is a big gap in between college and school about the risks,” she added.

“Most children have mobile phones now. I tell parents to check their phones, look out for any changes in behaviour.

“Some people are not getting the support they need and are falling through the cracks. It can happen to anyone.

“I’ve known girls who trained to be teachers and police officers who ended up in the sex industry.

“But if you can train them beforehand they can learn how to safeguard themselves.

“It’s an industry which can be fun and there are opportunities out there, but you have to safeguard yourself.”

To help parents and young people aiming for a modelling career Christine is planning to hold a children’s pageant and audition at Steam Museum on July 28 where she will offer training on avoiding sexual exploitation and child safeguarding.