The Tomb Raider series has long held the peculiar tradition of hiring models to represent its main character, adventurous heroine Lara Croft. This time around, presumably in keeping with the upcoming Tomb Raider: Underworld, Alison Carroll has been announced as the new model. Some background, for those who like that sort of thing:

The 23-year-old is a BGA accredited Club Coach in Tumbling, Sports Acrobatics, and General Gymnastics. She has a long association with the Bromley Valley Gymnastics Club, and the Shirley Gymnastics Club, bringing home first place trophies in regional and national competitions.

Alison continued to participate as a performing gymnast in annual gymnastic display events at Edinburgh Festival, Inverness Festival, Liverpool British Championships, Cardiff Festival, London Festival, Birmingham Ministrada and Portugal World Ministrada (representing Great Britain).

Carroll effectively replaces former London model Karima Adebibe, joining "an exclusive list of women who have donned hotpants and pistols to promote Lara Croft." She certainly seems to be filling the, uh, shoes well. Aw c'mon that was inevitable!