I have struggled with my breasts for years, I have related them to feeling ugly and I have carried them with guilt for not being able to feed my children. It has only been in the recent months that I have learnt to love them, this has been made so much easier to do with companies like Curvy Kate, not only do they celebrate the larger figure but they also provide lingerie that offers great support and is actually beautiful too.

I was encourage by a wonderful friend of mine to enter the Curvy Kate Star In A Bra competition this year, and feeling that this came at the perfect time in my learning to love my breast journey, I entered. Star In A Bra is a yearly search Curvy Kate run to find their next face and body to model for them. I love the fact that the competition is open for women who are D cup and over, and of all shapes and sizes. Curvy Kate understand that beauty comes in difference and that the best people to model their products is their very own customers.

Though I love the idea of being in a competition that supported body positivity, entering for a competition like this still pushed my anxiety levels. I know that being positive isn't always easy though, so I did it, I entered, and felt proud of myself for even taking that jump. Then I received an email, telling me out of nearly 2000 women I had been selected to go through, with 35 other women to the live auditions. I was deeply shocked, but felt that if I could get through this, and find the fun again I once used to have modelling, that I would of made a big step from the person who used to struggle with anxiety, who used to hide away and who used to be scared to leave the house and be in the world.

When I arrived at the audition venue, I was welcomed in, offered food (provided by @HappySkinKitchen) and drink and asked to take off my bra and relax (for modelling reasons only of course, we wouldn't want strap marks). Everyone introduced themselves and became quick friends, everyone was so friendly and funny, and the amount of love and support shown for the other entrances made me proud to be apart of it. This was what it was about, other women building each other up, not stepping on each other.

I was then introduced to the hair and make up team, who created a natural look with a light smokey eye and coral lips, my hair was given loose Hollywood curls that suited the fresh look curvy Kate likes to present, and it didn't take me too far out of my usual pinup comfort zone. These ladies were not only talented and professional, but also very friendly and comforting for us ladies who were feeling nervous. I loved the look they did for me, it was different from what I would usually have but it still made me feel pretty and confident. I would recommend working with them anytime and hope I get a chance to again some day.

During the day I was given three different sets to model, the Scantily Surrender Set, the Daydreamer Floral Print Set and the Dreamcatcher Magenta Set. They were all so beautiful and fit like a dream, Chantelle from the Curvy Kate team has a magic sense for fitting women into the perfect size and I felt great in what she had chosen for me. I learnt even more about bra fitting from talking to her and the other Curvy Kate team member, it was so wonderful to meet them and see how much passion they really have for what they do and how much making women feel good about themselves really means to them.

Shooting with Gavin Chapman was a lovely experience, he was professional, encouraging and had a great understand of lighting and how to pose models to get the most from their variety of shapes and sizes. As well as working with Curvy Kate, Gavin is also a London based photographer specialising in portraits. Gavin instantly relaxes you on set with his laid back personality and fun sense of humour. We started with a white shirt over lingerie to ease models into the shoot, then after shooting the three sets we finished with a set in our lingerie and jeans. I really enjoyed myself and suggest if you ever get a chance to shoot with him, that you go for it.

Lastly we finished with a mini video interview, again the team were wonderful but if you've seen my Vlogs you will know live videos are not my strong point. We were asked about ourselves, and why we feel we should be the next star in a bra, I was so nervous, I hardly remember what I said and I couldn't clearly get through what I wanted to say. All I can say now is that I am so thankful that I had this experience. I don't know if realistically I could go any further, but I am so proud that I did this and I am so proud of every other lady who put themselves out there to share there beauty and let others know that they are beautiful to. It is so important that we are kind to ourselves and kind to others, guilt and judgement does no one any favours. We need to stick together, encourage each other, not judge other peoples choices. We are all doing the best we can and we are all beautiful no matter what!

Thank you so much to Curvy Kate and team for being so lovely on the day and for letting me be involved in this wonderful campaign, I am so proud to be apart of this and offer my full support in the message you are trying to share, also thank you for the pretty goodies we got to take home! Thank you to everyone I met, the girls were beautiful and kind and I really have no idea how I will choose who to vote for, and thank you to everyone who send me supportive messages, I really feel so lucky to know you all.

(Click to read the Curvy Kate blog of the auditions)