Phil Neville's disabled teenage daughter fulfills her dream to become a model

The daughter of former England footballer Phil Neville has just been signed to a mainstream model agency, something the 13-year-old thought would never be possible as she has cerebral palsy.

Isabella was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 18 months after being born 10 weeks premature. At the time her parents Phil and Julie Neville were warned she might not be able to walk, but she defied all odds and began to walk, play sports and even dance, wearing painful splints.

Pic: George Osborne with Phil Neville, his wife Julie and their children Isabella and Harvey (2011)

Now, at the age of 13 Isabella has become one of the first girls in the country with a disability to be signed to a mainstream model agency.

Mum Julie told the Mirror,

“Like any other little girl, she is very excited. She was shocked when I said that Source Models wanted to sign her. I don’t think she believed it herself that anybody would want her and that is sad for me to think that she thinks that."

Julie posted a photo on Instagram saying how proud she was of her daughter, 'Your courage and determination continues to carry you over every hurdle sweetheart. Never stop following your dreams,' she said.

Whilst Isabella's parents are very excited about the signing Julie said, "What we are doing is trying to enable our daughter to fulfil her dreams like any other little girl her age, whilst protecting her at the same time and continuing to instil in her there is nothing she can’t achieve."

Here are the Neville family recently celebrating Phil Neville's 40th birthday.

• Isabella Neville
• Model
• cerebral palsy