DEMOCRATIC DIVAS

Miss Great Britain, Gemma Garrett is standing tall...now she's also standing for parliament. The Belfast beauty has formed the Beauties for Britain Party and is to stand in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election. Gemma says she wants to put the "beauty back into politics".

As this gallery shows, glamour and beauty is no barrier to joining the world of politics.

Former nude model Carla Bruni is now perhaps the most famous name in French politics after she married President Sarkozy.

The Italians have always done style well as Stefania Prestigiacomo proves. She was appointed Minister for Equal Opportunities.

One of the original Blair Babes, Oona King.

Segolene Royal brings a touch of elegance to French politics. She was elected by the Socialist Party in 2006 as their candidate for the 2007 presidential election.

Rama Yade, appointed France's State Secretary in charge of foreign affairs.

Esther McVey will fight the Wirral West seat for the Conservatives in the next General Election. Just when Gordon Brown thought things couldn't get any worse...

Mara Carfagna is currently an Italian parliamentarian but started life as a model and came 6th in the Miss Italy contest.

Caroline Flint started off as a regional minister but is now in the cabinet as  Minister of State for Housing and Planning.