WHEN notoriously critical designer Julien Macdonald watched Kirsty Doyle's creations on the runway, he had a surprise endorsement for her.

The A-listers' favourite predicted: "You could be the most famous Scouse fashion designer in the world!"

Julien was one of a panel of expert judges taking part in Sky One's Project Catwalk reality TV series.

And Kirsty, from Anfield, clearly won his seal of approval.

The third year JMU student was one of 12 designers chosen to live in a house together and face weekly fashion challenges.

Episode by episode, she has impressed industry

big-hitters, from Isabella Blow to Sadie Frost , and won her way through to the final test - a runway show at London Fashion Week.

Tomorrow night, viewers will watch Kirsty present her 12-piece collection in culmination of what she describes as the most vertical learning curve of her life.

"Some people have said it's been good luck," she says.. "But it hasn't been easy. It's an incredible opportunity and without it I wouldn't have got to where I am now, even in 10 years time."

For Kirsty, who runs her own label, Rapscallion, with former schoolmate Hayley Roberston,

London Fashion Week was always a far-off dream.

The three finalists for Project Catwalk had six months to create their collections.

After 10 weeks of design drama and catwalk criticism, everything came down to that one show. And, of course, the opinions of the all-important experts - Julien Macdonald , Ben di Lisi , Lorraine Candy from Elle magazine and programme presenter Elizabeth Hurley .

Kirsty decided to concentrate on evening wear and with a budget of £4,000 and the help of a garment manufacturer in London, she put together an edgy collection.

"I chose to stick with evening because it's what I know best and I came up with structured pieces - the things that I'd wear myself. "I made it for a young fashionable woman, around my age, who does exciting things."

A big bonus came, she adds, when she was told she would be allowed a guest model.

"I chose my sister Jessica and she was wonderful," smiles Kirsty. "She's younger than me, 17, and she was the perfect muse because she's a DJ, she's doing

her A levels and she has a great lifestyle."

Kirsty admits she did push her collection to the wire, leaving completion of the pieces to the very last minute.

"The day before the show I only had half of it there! I actually got one of my dresses on the morning of the show."

By the time the models were ready and the stage was lit, all 12 pieces were ready to go.

And, says Kirsty, then came the highlight of her Project Catwalk.

"I'd been so stressed up until the final moment because my stuff wasn't as glamorous as the others, but when I saw them I just welled up. It was like seeing my baby, something that I'd nurtured for months, and it was wonderful."

Of course she's not allowed to reveal the result, but whichever of the three finalists wins, Kirsty says it's been a tremendous catapult for her career.

Since she came out of the house, Kirsty has been busy working towards her graduation.

Will Kirsty really become the most famous Scouse fashion designer in the world?

"If Julien Macdonald says it," she laughs, "it must be true ..."

* The final episode of Project Catwalk is on Sky One, tomorrow, at 8pm.