AN EAST Lancashire woman will be competing for the title of ‘Miss British Beauty Curve 2015’ next month, representing the fuller-figured woman.

Emily Hargreaves, 21, applied for the competition after seeing the pageant on Katie Hopkin’s controversial documentary ‘My Fat Story’ which was very negative towards larger women.

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Emily was a size 8 before contracting rheumatic fever and chronic fatigue syndrome, which led to her piling on five stone in weight.

But she said she is happier now than she has ever been.

She said: “When I was doing my A-Levels four years ago I had rheumatic fever. As part of the recovery I was treated with steroids which led to me putting on a lot of weight in the space of about two years. I went from a size 8/10 to a size 16/18.”

The part-time barmaid at the Hare and Hounds in Lammack is due to complete her degree in management at Blackburn University later this year. She has also just started a job as hotel team leader at the Waddington Arms in Samlesbury.

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She said: “Everyone is really positive and supportive about the competition. My boyfriend Craig jokes that he’s going out with a beauty queen.

“The UK’s average size now is a size 16 so I’m not representing bigger girls, I’m representing average girls.

“I want to prove that big can be beautiful. I’m representing being a woman and being happy as you are whatever your size.

Emily, of Belvedere Road, Blackburn, applied for the competition online.

On the day of the competition, which will be held on 8 August in Surrey, there will be a number of rounds including swimwear and evening wear before one of the women is crowned Miss British Beauty Curve.

Emily’s first taste of modelling was jin April at a charity fashion show in Clitheroe.