A mum who has only been running her “cake floristry” business for just over a year has smashed a national competition.

Shauna Cook, from Sittingbourne, won three out of four categories in the Buttercream Bloom Awards 2024.

The 33-year-old makes hyper-realistic edible bouquets made up of cupcakes and buttercream flowers, including roses, tulips, carnations and lilies.

She discovered she had the hidden talent in March last year and two months later she set up Mrs Cook’s Bouqcakes.

Previously she had worked in the billing department for a shipping company, but handed in her notice in 2016 while she was on maternity leave with her first son, Alfie.

“I call myself a cake florist,” Shauna said.

“I realised I had a knack for baking after making my kids’ birthday cakes.

“I watched a couple of YouTube videos about making flowers out of buttercream, but I just knew what I was doing and picked it up immediately.

“I never thought I’d make my passion into a full-time business.

“This is the happiest I’ve ever been. I’ve found what I was meant to do.”

Her bouquets can take from as little as 90 minutes up to five hours to complete, depending on the size and complexity.

The most popular, and Shauna’s favourite, is a 12 cup creation which she spends around four hours on.

In August, she decided to submit some of her favourite designs to the national Buttercream Bloom Awards.

The online competition, which specialises in judging edible floral creations, had more than 35,000 votes and in excess of 200 entries.

This month the mum found out she had come first in three of the categories – Summer, Spring and Winter.

She had also won 2nd place in the fourth, Autumn.

“It was my first time entering and I wasn’t sure if I was even going to get anything out of it, but I thought some recognition would be amazing,” she said.

“I could not believe it. I stayed up until midnight waiting for the results and just stopped in my tracks.

“I’m over the moon and absolutely delighted.”

Shauna celebrated her achievement with her husband Ryan and her three children – Noah, Harry and Alfie.

“It’s the first time I have actually won anything in my life,” she added.

“I’ve gone from nothing to winning multi-platinum awards. It’s a little bit crazy.

“I’m still pinching myself – I can’t believe it happened.”

The smallest arrangement costs £15 for three cupcakes and goes up to £75 for 19 cakes.

Prices also vary depending on the design and choice of flowers.