Daniel Lee is 6ft 4in and gorgeous, with a six pack like a toast rack. He has modelled for Gap, Givenchy and featured at London Fashion Week, but on Saturday you can see him for yourself strutting his stuff on the catwalk at the Oxford Style Show. Daniel will be one of 20 models coming to town as part of the Models of Diversity team appearing at Oxford Town Hall to promote models of all natural shapes, size, race and age for Oxford Fashion Week’s closing event. He will also be joined by Katherine Blackett a gorgeous plus-sized model who is making waves in the waifer thin world of fashion models with her jutting cheekbones and curves. Katherine MacAlister speaks to the stunning duo about what it takes to make it as a diverse model.

You can’t go in half-hearted otherwise you’ll get taken for a ride,” Daniel Lee says when asked what advice he’d give wannabe models.

“You’ve got to believe you can do it as a person and really go for it.”

It took Daniel several agencies and lots of rejections before he was signed by Angel Sinclair of Models of Diversity, proving that self-belief was paramount to his success.

“I had to cut across so many boundaries before I joined Models of Diversity six months ago and I’ve been really busy with work ever since. So you have to believe you are good enough regardless of whatever anyone else says. You have to be strong and keep pushing until you can’t push anymore. Just don’t give up.”

Strong words for a 23-year-old but much needed in the dog-eat-dog world of fashion.

So how did Daniel deal with the rejection? “I just made sure I didn’t take it personally,” he shrugs. “If they rejected me, they obviously wanted a different look and there’s nothing I can do about that. So it never stopped or concerned me. You just go on to the next casting session and get out there.

“But then I did come into the fashion industry blind and it’s taken a while to get clued up about it. So I’m glad I didn’t give up,” Daniel reflects, “and I’m looking forward to representing Models Of Diversity on Saturday.”

Katherine Blackett agrees.

The 28-year-old says the older she gets the less she cares what other people think.

“The fact that I’m a bit bigger and am being considered for things other than glamour modelling, because I’ve got big boobs and am plus-sized, shows times are changing,” she says. “I’m more confident about who I am and what I look like now. I’m never going to be skinny but I think fashion has become more comfortable with that, so Models Of Diversity has fallen into my lap at just the right time. Everyone is diverse, and that doesn’t mean they aren’t beautiful,” she adds.

Angel Sinclair, who started the Models Of Diversity campaign, has devoted herself to changing the way fashion world views diverse models, which is why she’s so excited about the Models of Diversity Fashion Show Extravaganza on Saturday in support of Macmillan Nurses.

“It’s going to be bold, theatrical and dramatic,” she promises.

So what’s in it for her? “ Well, ‘super skinny’ is still the stereotypical model type to represent the fashion industry – in strong evidence at London Fashion Week this year,” Angel, 49, tells me. “Models of Diversity aims to promote real people who are shapely, beautiful and sexy which is great news for the majority of the UK’s female population who are an average size 16.”

Angel started the Models of Diversity campaign after she appeared on Gok Wan’s Miss Naked Beauty in 2008, when she was struck by the variety of beautiful women in the event, and how this contrasted with the narrow range we see in the fashion industry.

Her work now involves campaigning at fashion events to protest the impact of the size-zero culture, as well promoting their models in the media. “We want to see change,” Angel agrees, “which will take time. But in the meantime we are having so much fun and can’t wait to show you when we come to Oxford on Saturday.”

* The Oxford Style Show & Macmillan Clothes Extravaganza is on Saturday at Oxford Town Hall from 12pm-4pm. Runway shows include Miss Selfridge, French Connection, Reiss, Gap, Crew, L.K. Bennett, Fat Face, Aspire Style, Yelena Strelets, Models of Diversity, Oxford & Cherwell Valley College and Macmillan Clothes Extravaganza.

Tickets cost £5-£7.

Go to oxfordfashionweek.co.uk for more information.