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Leeds student Kate's in great shape
CRUEL bullies picked on Kate Alia because of her size – but now she is having the last laugh in a modelling contest which celebrates her curves.
Kate is in the second heat of Miss Natural Curves UK, which aims to showcase curvaceous women.
The Leeds Metropolitan University graduate said she was now happy with her body, a healthy size 12 to 14.
But at the age of 15 she was a size 22, suffering bullying at school and from a former boyfriend.
"It was kids at school particularly and they used to say things about my weight," she said.
Doctors eventually found she was suffering from polycystic ovaries, which had led to the weight gain.
After her condition was diagnosed, Kate changed her eating habits and took up exercise, shedding the pounds.
"When a boyfriend at the time encouraged me to go to the gym and lose weight, I got down to a size 12 to 14 which is fine for my 5ft 3 ins frame.
"My weight has never affected me professionally, but because my original ex put me down so much I'm much more insecure about relationships and have literally been scared of not being a size 10."
Last year Kate entered another modelling competition and reached the final 20, but pulled out because she did not feel confident enough.
Now, the 23-year-old is on the road to success in Miss Natural Curves, which is offering the winner a modelling contract and place in the Miss England contest, as well as supporting eating disorders charity B-EAT.
Kate said: "I thought Miss Natural Curves was much more suitable for girls like me and entered to boost my confidence and raise awareness about polycystic ovaries.
"I can see in a way why girls look up to some celebrity size zeros and their so-called disciplined approach, but most men have said that they think skin and bones are disgusting and prefer curves.
"Anyone should be able to become a model, not dependent on height or size, as there is a market for all sorts of shapes and sizes out there and it's about time the industry woke up to that."
The business studies graduate also hopes to get into television work.
"Now I am proud of my size, and would love to get into modelling, presenting and acting – it's about time Hollyoaks had a girl with a few more curves onboard, and I would love that to be me," she said.
"When I was younger I could never have done anything like this and it's nice because I missed out on a lot of my childhood."
The Miss Natural Curves final is on April 24 in Bedworth, Warwickshire. For more details, log on to www.missnatural curves.co.uk.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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