The 17-year-old, of Ulswater Close, Elland, was selected along with seven other teenagers to take part in a new BBC TV show Mission Beach USA.

The documentary shows Emma taking to the surf of San Diego with Californian youngsters in the Junior Lifeguard programme.

"I found out about the series through school because flyers had been posted out about it.

"It was my PE teacher who really encouraged me to take part, so I put together the application and just waited," she said.

"Then I got the call telling me that I had got through to the next stage."

Emma had to have a telephone interview, before going to Newcastle for a second interview and was finally asked to complete a swimming trial.

This included swimming 90 metres in under two minutes, treading water for 10 minutes and then swimming under water for 12 metres.

She said: "It was a long process and my mum supported me through every stage.

"When I found out that I had made it to the show I was just really excited and very proud."

Emma, who is a keen dancer and member of Whiteleys Academy of Performing Arts, Halifax, has described the experience as one she will never forget.

She was put through a routine of mental and physical tests including beach safety, body surfing, lifesaving, snorkelling and even horse riding.

"I was surprised at how extremely physically demanding it was. It was just so strenuous on your body and was just mentally tiring," she said.

"We would be woken up first thing for training and then when we weren't doing that we would be out on excursions.

"The one thing I was proud about was how much improvement I made in my swimming. By the end of it I came first at a 10-mile ocean swim.

"The whole experience has been amazing, and I have met some fantastic people who I just wish lived closer."

The teenager, who attends Brooksbank School, Elland, did however say the experience had not made her change her mind in career choice.

She is hoping to go on to university to study dance.

She said: "I have been dancing since childhood. It is the only thing I want to do."

The first show of the eight-part series will be aired on BBC2 on October 25 at 12.30pm.