Michelle was one of seven winners of the Mail-backed If we can, you can Challenge and now plans to take her ideas to a wider audience.

The competition was led by the Entrepreneurs' Forum and involved seven newspapers, including the Mail, with one winner each declared for the seven areas.

A Far East trip has now been arranged with the help and support of the forum, which was created in 2002 by a group of leading business people to encourage a culture of enterprise within North East England.

Michelle, 32, a former head of design with Playboy, has been involved in underwear design since leaving university and will make the trip later this month.

Hartlepool-born Michelle only recently moved back to her hometown after living away since she was 19 and hopes to officially unveil her company Michelle Taylor Design, in Autumn next year

She said: "An important aspect in the design industry is networking and gaining knowledge on business from support agencies.

"I also aim to work with my contacts from China and Hong Kong to produce my range.

"Once firmly established here in the UK I will then liaise with contacts I have in the United States and Hong Kong to take my range to an international level."

Ambitious Michelle is also hoping to advise young designers in the area about how they can use their creative talents in the future.

Carole Beverley, chief executive of the Entrepreneurs' Forum, said: "I am delighted at how far each entrepreneur has come.

"The trip to China will be such a brilliant opportunity. Taking business to an international level is a fantastic way of meeting potential clients and networking while forging links for the region."

The If we can, you can Challenge is part of a wider campaign by the Entrepreneurs' Forum to promote a can-do culture in North East England and create a new spirit of entrepreneurship in the region.