Exclusive:
Helaina Morgan won’t let labels affect her as she’s competing in a swimsuit round as a Miss Great Britain finalist – and hopes she can show there isn’t just one type of ‘beach body’
It’s hard to believe that as a child, Helaina Morgan felt crippling embarrassment over her body image.
Now, aged 30, the brunette beauty looks more confident than ever in a bikini. Despite not always feeling as confident in her skin, Helaina proudly shares snaps showing off her curves in a swimsuit and doesn’t let the label of being ‘obese’ stop her.
The Social Media Manager, from Bolton, loves her curves, regardless of what her BMI states. Helaina, who weighs 86kg, knows her body size and shape will always fluctuate, and works hard to keep herself healthy. After seeing a positive reaction online, she is now competing in the Miss Great Britain pageant finals.
She has also been shortlisted in the top 20 for the Beach Body round, and after always struggling with body confidence, this is an achievement she’s immensely proud of.
“Female empowerment is a vital part of my story, especially for women with curves. Bringing that representation and being the inspiration I never had when I was younger, as I was always the chubby child growing up with ‘puppy fat’. I used to struggle with my self-image, especially growing up in the late 90s/early 2000s when the beauty standard was to be tall and very very slim,” Helaina told Daily Mirror.
“I am only 5’4, I am currently a healthy dress size 10/12 and weigh 86kg. My body has fluctuated over the years from being a slim size 8/10 to a large 14/16, like any woman, I have struggled with self-image and confidence over the years, but after years I’ve finally found that balance of being confident in myself and my body while maintaining a healthy balanced lifestyle.”
Helaina stands by being “anti-BMI” as she is classed as ‘obese’, which “sounds very upsetting”. She admits that if she was told that a few years ago it would have sent her “into a spiral of feeling terrible” about herself, with label making her feel very “self-critical”.
However she now feels confident when she looks in the mirror after accepting herself for who she is. “Even when I was a small size 8/10 I was still curvy, that’s just my body type and my genetics. I’m British born, with Egyptian and Mediterranean heritage which I think comes into play also.”
The pageant queen puts her newfound confidence down to finding a love for fitness and boxing, which she said makes her feel “powerful”. But she never had this self-belief as a child.
Feeling embarrassed by her ‘puppy fat’ at school, Helaina was conscious of her ‘big legs and bum’, especially in a PE kit and in a school skirt, and revealed even now, people will comment on her weight – but she doesn’t let it hurt her.
“I am proud of who I am and I look after myself, eat in moderation and go to the gym because I love it! I feel empowered, recharged and powerful by exercising with boxing, cardio and weights to help me release tension and stress from the day. I would class myself as a mid-sized ‘queen’ and that I’m proud of my body and I can’t wait to show that off on the Miss Great Britain stage.”
She said being nominated in the top 20 for Beach Body is a “small win” as she knew it would be “tough competition” but is delighted to show there isn’t just one type of ‘beach body’. “If I did win beach body I feel that this would only further empower my message and inspire other women who may look up to me and be able to relate to my story. I did cry a little with happiness when I found out the results.
“I am no stranger to Miss Great Britain with my own mother competing in back in 1984. If I was to be crowned Miss Great Britain, I would love to be the face for women who feel the pressure to meet societal expectations and give them the confidence to do life in their own time and celebrate it as it happens and going against the societal grain that expects us to have the conventional life all in in order by a certain age.”
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