Gail Porter - Looking Good

TV presenter Gail Porter could be said to have a head start in the beauty stakes with her slim figure, peachy skin, glossy blonde hair and sparkling green eyes. Yet Gail, 27, insists that although working on BBC2's Fully Booked leaves her little time for going out - 'I'm lucky if I get out once a month, my social life is mainly having a few girlfriends round for a bottle of wine' she says - Gail always makes time for the gym.

She has a daily workout at her local health club and anyone who gets on the wrong side of her - although with her fantastic sense of humour that's pretty difficult to do - had better watch out: she's a second dan karate black belt.

The ancient martial art is a skill she acquired while growing up in Edinburgh, but now she saves her energies for the gym. 'I'm an early bird and try to get there for six in the morning,' she says. 'I spend around two hours doing a combination of cardiovascular exercises, swimming and weights. It sets me up for the day and gives me bags more energy. I do it for my figure too. I was about two stone heavier at school.

'Now I'm 6st 6lb, which makes me sound thin, but I am small boned and only 5ft 4in tall. I measure 32- 21-31 but I don't like my body at all - my thighs are too bulky and my chest's too big.

'Not that I can do anything about either of those things. I feel I'm the right weight for my size now. I do make a point of eating very healthily. I became a vegetarian when I was 18 and normally eat toast and fruit for breakfast, steamed vegetables or salad for lunch and fish with more vegetables for dinner.' All vitamin- packed choices which fuel her demanding schedule.

To keep her complexion glowing, Gall uses Thalgo and Philosophy cleansers and toners. She treats her hair to Aveda products.

'But eating healthily is worth more than expensive products,' says the fast-rising but singularly down-to- earth television beauty.

The 5ft 4in TV presenter keeps trim with daily visits to her locol health club where she combines cardiovascular exercises, swimming and weights for a two-hour workout. Gail also has a black belt in karate, which she studied while growing up. She wears black leather shell top, £180, and green Iayered skirt, £117, both by Amoyo Arzuoga, Fenwicks

On her skin, Gail uses Thalgo amd Philosophy cleansers and toners. 'But I dont spend hours in the bathroom, I thinkeating health is far more importamt for a good complexion than lots of expensive creams,' soys Gail who has been a vegetian for nearly ten years and bases her meals on lots of fresh fruit, steamed vegetables, fish and wholemeal bread

Gail started out in TV as a Girl Friday, doing everything from answering the phones to babysitting. This was her first part of a grand plan to get her face in front of the comera. 'I always wanted to be famous,' she says. 'I've got hundreds of videos of me as a child singing into a hairbrush. I'm very ambitious and focused on where I wont to go on to from here'

Gail may look breathtakingly glamerous, but away from the camera she's very casual. 'I'm absolutley useless at applying makeup,' says Gail. 'I wear some Maybelline mascara and a Mac lipstick - that's the lot. But I do take care of my skin.' Here she wears John Galliano's mermaid dress for Christian Dior, £400. All Gail's make-up in this picture is by Dior

Here Gail wears a trouser suit by William Hunt, £500, silver vest by Joseph, £79. 'I love William Hunt's designs,' says Gail. 'He makes absolutely beautiful suits in amazing fabrics. but most of the time I wear casual clothes with trainers, stuff that's easy to wear and run around in. I find it really easy to change my look - it's like playing a role'