Rebekah scores over the lads

Rebekah Wade, the new editor of the News of the World, has made her name by succeeding in the traditionally male-dominated tabloid newspaper world.

Not only has she succeeded, but the 32-year-old seems to have made it to the top while championing a more female-friendly approach.

Ms Wade takes up her highest profile job yet after the resignation of previous editor Phil Hall.

She is already known in the industry for having spent much of her two years as David Yelland's deputy at The Sun in trying to persuade him to get rid of the page three "girlie" pictures.

Every editor needs to appeal to female readers to boost their circulation

Rebekah Wade

But her aim is to increase circulation rather than bring feminism to the tabloids.

As chairwoman of Women in Journalism, she was behind recent research into the portrayal of women in the press.

"Our research shows that women are significantly under-represented in newspapers, even though they make up almost half the readers," she said.

"In a highly competitive newspaper market, every editor needs to appeal to female readers to boost their circulation."

But she has yet to reveal if she will follow her own advice at the News of the World.

Ms Wade is engaged to actor Ross Kemp

In her private life, Ms Wade is herself a target of the paparazzi.

Currently engaged to actor Ross Kemp - who played Grant Mitchell in EastEnders - she has had to learn the art of dodging the camera.

More publicly, she has also been known to consort with royalty - most recently at the Prince of Wales' 50th birthday party.

Her first job in journalism was a long way from the tabloids.

She began her career on Architecture Aujourd'hui in Paris, before returning to her Cheshire roots to work for Eddie Shah's Messenger Group and, later, his Post newspaper.

This is her second time at the News of the World, having joined its Sunday magazine at the age of 20.

'Networker'

She rose to become deputy editor before being sent to The Sun in 1998.

Often described as a "consummate networker", she is said to count tabloid favourites such as Sheryl Gascoigne among her friends.

But her network easily stretches to politicians.

Indeed, it is she who is said to have introduced David Yelland to the Blairs on his return from New York to edit The Sun.