A ROSSENDALE woman is fighting to be the face of a national lingerie company.

Kirsty Smyth has battled against over 1,000 others to make it to the top 10 of the National Star in a Bra search, which celebrates the full-figured woman.

Curvy Kate, the Harrow-based company which has launched the competition, is hoping it will show how good real women can look in lingerie regardless of their shape and size.

And specialist bra designers who cater for women with the fuller figure are backing the final to challenge conventional thinking about what looks good.

Kirsty, originally from Bacup but now working as a journalist in Berwick upon Tweed, said: “I think it's important that there are products which help curvier girls feel good about themselves.

“I’ve been disappointed when bras I've ordered arrived in my size looking more like a pair of dustbin lids than the pretty, delicate bra shown on the A cup model in the picture.

“I have never done any real modelling before and it does take guts to do this.”

Brastop.com which is championing the competition has claimed that most images supplied by top brands do not show a true representation of how a bra fits and looks on a bigger bust.

Kirsty, 24, who is a 34G, is hoping the people of Rossendale will support her efforts by voting for her online at www.starinabra.com.

If she is successful, Kirsty will become the face of Curvy Kate Lingerie this year and will also model on the www.brastop.com website.

She would also receive free lingerie every month for a year as well.

Kirsty, who is a former Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School pupil from Bankside Lane, said: “I'd love to be involved with Curvy Kate so I could help promote a confident, fun image for girls like me.

“My friends and family are behind me which is great.”

The public can vote on the recent photoshoot images from today and the winner will be announced on June 17.