Cleaner goes from rags to riches

SPARKLING Leanne Rodrigues had no idea she could polish up so well. Now the Cinderella cleaner from Urmston is going to the ball in what is set to be a rags to riches fairy tale.

Leanne, who is 21 next month and earns just '5,000 a year, was given a taste of the high life in a new series of ITV1's Poor Little Rich Girls.

But after swapping places for a week with successful London DJ and model Sassy Porter, the 'gobsmacked' young cleaning lady was offered a modelling contract of her own.

'It's still all a bit of a shock,' confesses Leanne, who proved herself a natural when taking part in a photo shoot. 'When I first saw the photos I went, 'Wow!' I was so proud of myself. I couldn't believe I could look like that. What I wear for cleaning is just like rags and I look so messy. But I polish up quite well!'

Although she turned down the original offer from Sassy's agent ' 'before I sign up for anything I'd have to ask my mum first' ' Leanne is now exploring other potential deals. 'I'm so excited, I can't sleep.'

And next week she and mum Jackie, 40, will swap their mops and brushes to watch a live premiere of the documentary at a special celebration night in London.

'It was a fantastic experience to make the programme. Living Sassy's life, I was always on the go, meeting people and going out partying every night,' recalls single girl Leanne.

Housemates

She's had 'hundreds of jobs' since leaving Flixton Girls' School at 16, including spells as a waitress, barmaid and at a local superstore.

Now she works for her mother's company called Home Helpers, which specialises in cleaning, laundry and shopping for over-65s.

Still living at home with her mum, Leanne says: 'We're soulmates and housemates.'

Jet setter Sassy, who has DJ'd for Eminem and Beyonce, got on well during her week in Manchester with Jackie, but proved to be a hopeless cleaner and needed a lie down after the stress of a 9 to 5 job.

All three remain friends and Sassy has told Leanne she can stay with her in London while she explores a modelling career.

Single mum Jackie broke down in tears when she first saw the model pictures of her daughter. 'I've always thought she'd do well in modelling and other people have told her that. But she's never had the confidence to do it.

'Leanne is one of these girls who is very pretty but she doesn't know it. I don't think she realised until she saw the photos. I'm so proud of her. She's always strived and wanted a little more than what she's been handed in life.

'She's going to go off into the big world and I'll miss her. But that's the way it should be. Now I'll have to find someone else to do the cleaning!'