She was tormented at school because of her appearance, but Charlotte Stanford is looking forward to proving the bullies wrong as she represents her town in a national beauty pageant.

The 29-year-old decided to take part in the Miss Galaxy UK competition after going last year with her friend Clare Webb. She was approached by one of the judges, who urged her to get involved the following year.

Charlotte, of Hampshire Drive, Maidstone, said: “I said no, but then a friend sent me the link to enter, so I did. A week later I had been selected from thousands to compete for Maidstone.”

But beauty pageants weren’t always something the mother-of-two thought she could do, having been bullied as a child about her weight and appearance, moving school many times as a result.

She said: “I’m excited and nervous about the competition. I’m very insecure and self-conscious about my weight.

“I’ve lost five stone, so this is a real confidence boost, but it’s scary knowing I’ll be up on stage.”

Charlotte decided to lose the weight two years ago, by eating more healthily.

She said: “I never stopped myself from having anything that I wanted, I just had smaller portions of it.”

“I had tried every diet you can imagine, and a lot of them worked but as soon as I stopped I put the weight back on. This is more of a lifestyle change.”

“I’m excited and nervous about the competition. I’m very insecure and self-conscious about my weight" - Charlotte Stanford

Charlotte will take to the stage in four different outfits, in front of judges at the Park Hall Hotel in Preston, Lancashire on Wednesday, March 8.

Each competitor has to find sponsors to qualify for the contest. Charlotte’s dresses have been donated by Bridal Gowns at Jodi in Gabriels Hill. She will also have hair and make-up sponsored for the competition.

As well as her stylists, the self-employed florist will be joined in Preston by family and friends, including her two young sons, Bradley and Harry. “They think it’s pretty cool that mum is Ms Maidstone,” she joked.

One person who sadly won’t be with her on the big day is her mum, Lily Beaney, who died in November 2011.

Charlotte said: “It’s going to be emotional being there without her, but I’m sure she will be there in spirit.”

But she revealed her attitude towards the pageant. “This is all completely alien to me, I’m throwing myself in at the deep end but I’m going to swim as far as I can.”

Here's how to follow her journey.