A BEAUTY pageant finalist is hoping to be crowned Miss Plus Size UK and prove beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.

Michelle Carter, 35, of Primrose Hill, Chelmsford, has reached the final stages of the competition, which celebrates “big, bold and beautiful” women.

Miss Carter, who is a UK size 26 when it comes to clothes, said: “The beauty pageant company runs club nights in London and I got to know people there who suggested I go in for it.”

After getting through a group interview, catwalk training and a beauty bootcamp, she was chosen as a finalist and will appear in the final of the competition on September 19, in Manchester.

She said: “I’m really excited and if I do win I want to push body acceptance and get people to feel good about themselves.

“There’s a big plus-size fashion movement at the moment, which is great as fashion can be very limited in larger sizes, but there’s no reason women or men who wear bigger sizes shouldn’t be fashionable.

“Are people supposed to walk around naked until they fit into a size 14?

"Fashion should be for everyone.

“It’s not about saying you should be fat or be thin, but that everyone is perfect and no one should judge you for who you are or living as you want.”