BOND GIRL CHOOSES A MISSION WITH GOD; Shannon is new role model in the Church.

Byline: MATT SLATER

A FORMER catwalk queen has given up her glamorous jet-set lifestyle to become a village vicar.

Shannon Ledbetter, 39, travelled across the globe as a model for glossy magazines and top fashion houses.

She even landed a role in James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies alongside 007 Pierce Brosnan.

But Shannon, who moved from the US to Liverpool seven years ago, has turned her back on modelling to become curate at St Mark's church in Knowsley village.

She said: ``I really don't see myself as some stuffy vicar type or as a Vicar of Dibley kind of character, stuck in a quiet, rural village.

``It's important that the Church has representatives from different backgrounds so it can appeal to as wide an audience as possible.

``it takes all kinds of people to minister to all kinds of people.''

Shannon was ordained at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral last Sunday and says she is now looking forward to the challenges of priesthood.

She said: ``I really enjoyed modelling and it was a fun lifestyle, but religion remained my foundation.

``I know it seems like a strange change of career but I knew I wanted to do something either within a Church or within a community from a faith perspective.

``It just took me a while to decide what role I should play.''

A diocese spokesman said: ``I think it's good for people like Shannon to be involved with the Church.

``People often have an image of the clergy being dominated by older, more conservative men.

``In order for the Church to modernise,it's important that we can recruit more women and younger ministers so we can be more representative of society as a whole.''

CAPTION(S):

NEW ROLE: Shannon after her ordination; FLASHBACK: Shannon the model