Young, curvaceous mum Rochelle McLaren was struggling with self-confidence after having two sons.

She was stuck in a rut, and her mum suggested she should try something new and have a go at modelling. Soon afterwards, the 23-year-old, of Montgomery Close, Gravesend, saw an advertisement for a beauty pageant and decided to enter.

“It was to be Miss Curve, and I thought: ‘I’m curvy and model. I’ll just apply and see what happens’,” the former retail worker said. “Two days later, I got an email saying I was a finalist and will be competing in a huge spectacular final held in Cardiff on March 23. I’m so excited.”

Rochelle will now be competing against a dozen other women for the title Miss Real
Girl UK.

“This will be the biggest thing I have done so far. I’m nervous but really excited,” she said.
“I feel as a young mum my life is finally going places.

“After having children at a young age your friendship groups change and you’re trying to find the balance between becoming a mum and having your own identity.

“I think girls need to know that if they work hard, big things can happen to them as well. Your life doesn’t end when you become a mum.”
She added: “I like the fact that the modelling industry is changing so it doesn’t matter what size you are. Everyone needs to know they are beautiful in their own way. I think it is really good that there is a need for plus-size models.

“Modelling just makes me happy, and it means I can provide my boys the best start in life and make them proud.” Rochelle has two children, Zach, one , and Ethan, two.