She is also known for her role in Waterloo Road as Tasha Lefton, a diabetic pupil who went as far as refusing to take insulin so that she can lose weight, to be "Rochdale's next top model".
[1] Cairns was announced as one of the fourteen girls who participated in Britain's Next Top Model, Cycle 4.
During her run in the competition, she accumulated 3 first call-outs, tying with eventual winner Alex Evans, and one bottom two appearance.
She appeared in the bottom two with eventual second runner-up Stefanie Wilson, the judges decided to send her home.
[1] She made an appearance in Series 4, Episode 17 of Waterloo Road as disruptive pupil, Tasha Lefton, which was aired on 29 April 2009 on BBC1.