FIVE years ago, Nicola Stratton had millions of viewers glued to their TV screens as she underwent a £130,000 extreme makeover.

The then 30-year-old air stewardess from Little Lever became an overnight celebrity.

But shortly after the life-changing cosmetic surgery, her marriage was over. And then one of her breast implants exploded, making her feel like “a freak”.

Since then though, corrective surgery, a new man and a change of career have made her happy again.

Nicola was chosen from more than 4,000 people for drastic cosmetic surgery as part of Channel 5’s Brand New You programme.

After spending 30 hours under the knives of LA’s finest doctors, she walked away with a reshaped nose, lifted upper eyelids and brow, a Hollywood smile and pinned-back ears.

She ditched her glasses and became the proud owner of a 36DD cleavage, as opposed to her former 36A chest. She looked and felt fabulous.

The flight attendant, who travelled the world from Berlin to Barbados, was a new person.

Programme makers even arranged a surprise wedding vows renewal for her and husband Kirk, on Malibu beach.

Sadly, a few weeks after the cameras stopped rolling, their marriage was over.

Nicola had discovered make-up, high heels and blonde hair. Her friends were happy for her. Being single suited her — then she met Andy, on a girls’ holiday to Tenerife two years ago. “I had a new face and a new body, I was having a ball, and I wasn’t looking for a relationship,” she said.

Months before meeting him, Nicola had decided to change careers and a recruitment ad for the prison service caught her eye.

Seven months after applying, Nicola was informed of a vacancy, but when she was told it was at the other end of the country, her heart sank. Then she realised it was actually on Andy’s doorstep.

After 12 years of looking after in-flight holidaymakers, dressed and made-up to the nines, Nicola now deals with inmates, wearing her prison uniform, her face devoid of make-up and her hair scraped back She is dedicated, works hard and is training for professional qualifications.

The only blip since meeting Andy was her saline breast implant rupturing last year. Nicola raised the £5,000 needed to have both replaced with silicone implants, which are considered safer, at a clinic in Manchester.

In a further twist, one of these new implants was rejected by her body — a condition called capsular contracture.

It was replaced again in September, 2009, and it has been fine since then.

Nicola still visits Bolton regularly, especially since her truck-driver dad Fred Houlker had a heart bypass just before Christmas.

“My life has changed dramatically,” said Nicola, now aged 36.

“I would never go back, never in a million years. I am now 100 per cent happy.”