CURVY campaigner Eleanor Fitch has achieved something most women might only ever dream of.

Not only has she got herself a modelling job with a national clothing brand, but she’s also showing the fashion industry it’s time for real women to be recognised for their beauty.

Mum-of-two Eleanor, of Stanway, was whittled down from hundreds women to front the autumn/winter campaign for plus-size fashion chain, Yours.

And it was all after she was inspired by a TV documentary.

Eleanor, who is a size 18 to 20, said: “I watched the documentary last year in regard to people who are ‘proper plus-sized’ rather than just being the industry standard of size 12 to 16, which I don’t think should be the standard anyway.

“It was all about people who are size 16 and above and how they wanted the standard in shops changing, so you can go into any shops to buy clothes, rather than plus-size ones.”

The programme featured a ‘Curvy Convention’ – a plus-sized fashion show – and Eleanor wanted to know more so emailed the organisers.

A reply came back inviting her to a casting in January this year.

“I went up with my husband Ben and my youngest daughter in tow and I wasn’t sure what to expect,” the mobile hairdresser said.

Around 300 aspiring models were asked to tell judges about themselves and grace a catwalk.

Eleanor said: “I tried to make them laugh – it was a personality thing as well and I was trying to show them I am a quirky kind of person.”

Thirty-five women including Eleanor were asked back to this year’s Curvy Convention in London in May.

Eleanor had to model for six different plus-sized clothing designers and relished every minute.

Then, with her new found confidence, she came across another modelling opportunity from Yours on Instagram.

Interested women were asked to post a picture of themselves online with #Faceofyours.

Thirty people, including Eleanor, were shortlisted and she had to go down to Yours’ head office in Peterborough.

Eleanor, 33, said: “They picked 17 or 18 of us chosen for different parts of their campaign. I am going to be shooting for them in October.”

Eleanor’s modelling photos will appear in Yours stores up and down the country.

It’s given Eleanor motivation to help lead for change in an industry that has traditionally favoured skinny models.

She added: “Having this has made me feel more positive about myself. I can achieve anything I want if I put my mind to it.

“It’s fun at the moment and I don’t know where it is going to go to. Plus-size clothing is becoming such a big thing now.

“Everybody should be catered for, not just people who are up to size 16.

“Everybody should have a choice of where they buy clothes from.”

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