A TOTTON schoolgirl will enjoy her perfect moment tonight - impersonating singing star Martine McCutcheon on national TV.

Kim Hillyard is one of the contestants on Stars In Their Eyes . . . Kids 2002, a special youngsters' version of the ITV show in which members of the public emulate famous singers.

Kim, 16, of Hammond's Green, auditioned for the show after friends pointed out her resemblance to Martine, the EastEnders actress who turned pop star.

The Testwood School pupil was told about the auditions by the principal of Stagecoach Drama School, which she also attends.

"Everyone was always saying that I look like Martine, then my teacher told me about the auditions and said 'Why don't you give it a go?'" said Kim.

Kim beat off competition from 30,000 other young hopefuls in two auditions to become one of just 25 youngsters taking part in the new series.

"I couldn't believe it when they told me I'd got on the show," said Kim, who has had to keep the result of the show a secret since recording it at the Granada studios in Manchester last Easter.

"It was really weird when they turned me into Martine. I just kept looking in the mirror," she said.

"I was actually more excited than scared when I had to perform. We got to film it twice and they chose the best performance. I enjoyed it a lot."

Kim was also thrilled to meet the show's host Matthew Kelly.

"I was sitting in this chair having my make-up done and he just tapped me on the shoulder from behind. He was really lovely," she said.

As well as bearing an uncanny resemblance to Martine, Kim has even mirrored the singer's career, by taking the starring role in a school production of My Fair Lady - at the same time as Martine was performing the same role on the London stage.