Is Vogue chavin' a laugh, Coleen?

She has been mercilessly pilloried as Britain's No.1 chav, her fashion sense held up to public ridicule.

But last night Coleen McLoughlin was enjoying the last laugh following news that she could become a Vogue cover girl.

Yes, it is true. Wayne Rooney's fiancèe could emulate the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Gwyneth Paltrow and grace the coveted front of the style bible.

It will send shockwaves through the country, with fashion-conscious women asking: How did we all get it so wrong?

Many may even be persuaded to jump into a barrel of designer clothes each morning and see what sticks. Happy shopper-McLoughlin is famous for wearing garish and oddly matched creations from Juicy, Dior and Marc Jacobs, and accessories by Balenciaga and Jimmy Choo.

This has led to snobbish - and slightly jealous - remarks that you can't buy taste, especially if you sleep with a footballer.

But one person reportedly blown away by the 19-year-old's chav-chic was Alexandra Shulman, editor of British Vogue.

An insider at the magazine said: ' Alexandra spotted Coleen in a London restaurant recently and was struck by how beautiful and stylish she was. The upshot is Coleen will be doing a huge spread in the June edition, with photos by the man responsible for the Prada campaign, Robert Wyatt. She may even be on the cover.'

While the press has ritually derided McLoughlin's style, others in the media spotlight have sought to imitate it.

Alex Curran, fiancèe of Liverpool star Steven Gerrard, recently stepped out in a glaring fuchsia tracksuit and white rabbit fur boots - identical to an ensemble McLoughlin was spotted in weeks before.

McLoughlin's spokesman refused to confirm the Vogue project, but said: 'Coleen's clear sense of style is increasingly making her something of an icon.'