Star In A Bra Top Thirty Interview – Jane Blackhall

We’re already on the penultimate day of interviews, how did that happen?! With just ten interviews left to go, it’s time we broke into some of our Easter Eggs early and heard from the rest of our beautiful top 30.

Our first interview of the day is with Jane Blackhall.

Good morning Jane! Why don’t you tell our readers all about you?

Well this is my third year in a row in the competition but for those of you who haven’t read about me before my name is Jane and like these lovely other ladies here; I am naturally gifted in the boobage department with my bra size at 28H. I am a student studying Marketing Management with Consumer Studies so I should be good when it comes to selling myself but I always find the hardest thing in life to talk about is just that…me. I also have a degree in Product Design. My favourite thing is life is spending time with my friends or my boxer dog, Murph, or shopping, or dancing….okay so I have a lot of favourite things! But when I was younger shopping for bras and underwear definitely did not make the list. I could never find anything to fit. I literally thought: why me? When my friends were buying pretty bras and finding underwear that fit I struggled. Only within the last few years have I found an increase in bras targeted specifically at D+ cups that aren’t just available in the standard black, nude or white and in only one shoulder boulder holder shape. Its brands like Curvy Kate to thank for this. I would still like to see a wider varietyof swimwear out there that start at a back size 28 though. As all of us in the competition prove, there is a market for this.

A familiar face to the competition! So why did you decide to enter Star In A Bra again? 

I didn’t actually decide to enter the competition until the final submission day, in bed and without a computer. I scrambled some pictures in my phone memory and entered them. I didn’t tell anyone that I had entered again this year as I really didn’t think after two years of getting into the top 30 that there was any chance of it happening again but it did and I couldn’t be happier or more grateful that I did. It is truly flattering and a huge confidence boost in itself to be picked. I would love to make it further this year. Fingers firmly crossed!

The best last minute decision we’ve ever heard of! You’ll have answered this question before, so may hate me again, sorry! Why do you think people should vote for you? 

Well there are lots of people to choose from; you may think that 30 isn’tmany but when you can only pick your favourite three to vote for it feels like you a spoilt for choice. I can only hope that people like what they see and what they read about me. I think that is all I can ask for third time round.

Good luck Jane! 

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Next up we hear from Georgie Hughes!

We’ve finally got to our 20th interview with our gorgeous top 30, which means that the final ten countdown is on! Time flies when you’re having fun, so let’s keep going.

Our final interview of the day is with Sonya Kainth.

Good afternoon Sonya! Why don’t you tell our blog readers all about you?

I am a 23 yr old Sales Exec who leads a pretty hectic life in London! I love to socialise with my friends and am probably the happiest person you will ever meet in your life – much to the annoyance of my colleagues! I am an absolute massive foodie! I recently came back from a world trip in which I basically ate my way around various countries for 6 months; trying delicacies I would never normally try and significantly adding to my curves!

That sounds like my perfect holiday! Why did you decide to enter Star In A Bra this year?

I entered the competition because unlike a lot of people who have plus sized boobs and a curvy figure, I have been curvy and had plus sized boobs  my entire life! After losing weight with Weight Watcher’s I decided that it is time for me to embrace my curves and celebrate my figure! This is what I hope Curvy Kate will help me to do. Now I am at a weight and shape that I am happy with I am excited to share my curves with all those other gorgeous curvy girls!

Good for you Sonya, I think we all need to reach that point where we’re happy with ourselves, and Star In A Bra is a great way to celebrate that. Just one last question, the one everyone hates me for – sorry! Why do you think people should vote for you?

People should vote for me because I am a natural curvy star who loves to fall in love with an excellent underwear range! I have been searching since I was about 13 for great bigger sized bra’s and i would love to highlight to all the curvy girls out there how amazing it is to love your curves and adore your body!

Good luck Sonya!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Come back tomorrow for more interviews!

Our fourth interview of the day and we’re closing in on interview number 20 with our lovely top 30, can you believe it? We best carry on then, not long now until the public vote closes and we don’t want you casting your votes until you’ve heard from everyone!

Our next interview is with Annabel Challenger.

Good afternoon Annabel! Why don’t you tell our readers all about you?

My name is Annabel, I’m 23 and I live in the beautiful county of Gloucestershire. I would describe myself as a happy and friendly person who is very down to earth, I strive to live life to the full and try my best in everything I do. When I’m not working as a Property Sales Consultant I love spending time with my wonderful family, friends and my boyfriend Tom. To my close friends I have always been know as ‘the one with the big boobs’ and over the years the nickname of ‘Annabella Boobington’ has stuck!

I enjoy maintaining a fit and healthy lifestyle by attending ‘legs, bums and tums’ and spinning classes at my local gym a few times a week. However, I have a very sweet tooth and often indulge myself with ‘naughty but nice’ treats, I’ve a HUGE weakness for anything chocolate flavoured – chocolate cupcakes, chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate milkshakes – yum yum! I enjoy traveling and experiencing new cultures, I have been very lucky to have traveled to some wonderful countries making new friends along the way. Whilst on holiday you will usually find me in the ocean either scuba diving, swimming or attempting to windsurf. I love all aspects of life from dinning out with friends, lazy Sundays watching movies to dog walks in the forest. I have a huge soft spot for animals and I adore all of my pets, I have a Yorkshire Terrier called Sassy, a Pomeranian named Boo and a Chihuahua called ToTo, I also have a beautiful Bengal named Tink.

After following the competition for the past few years I have always regretted not entering myself, so to be in this years Top 30 has already been an amazing experience and a huge confidence boost! I really enjoyed taking my photos and submitting my application – I will definitely be encouraging all of my curvy friends to do the same next year!

I won’t lie, that’s a brilliant nickname! So why did you decide to enter Star In A Bra this year?

I entered Star in a Bra for a variety of reasons, the main reason being I love everything that Curvy Kate represents, the fact they use real women as appose to the usual size 0 models is something I admire. I am proud to be a curvy girl and I would love to win the competition to inspire other women to feel confident in their curves too! I feel that there is so much pressure, especially on young girls to look a certain way in this day and age, I would relish the opportunity to be at the forefront of the curvy revelation and be a healthy role model.

I utterly adore Curvy Kate lingerie and wear it on a daily basis – Curvy Kate bras give me excellent support and comfort, furthermore it makes me feel feminine, sexy and confident about my body shape! I want to help spread the word and educate all the lovely ladies with fuller chests that wearing a correct fitting bra can make a huge difference to you physically and mentally. If you feel good about yourself in your smalls you will also feel good about yourself in clothes! From the age of 14 I’ve had a D+ cup size and like every girl growing up I’ve had many insecurities with how I looked and I have often struggled to find a bra that ticks every box! I have eventually learnt to love my body and to embrace my curves (with the help of Curvy Kate!) and I would love to inspire other women who can relate to my body shape to feel the same.

Glad to hear you’re a Curvy Kate fan, it always helps! Just one last question Annabel – why do you think people should vote for you?

With voluptuous chest size of 34GG, a dress size 12 and friendly personality I believe I have what it takes to be the next Star in a Bra and to be a great ambassador for Curvy Kate! I feel comfortable and confident with my curvy body and this is something I want to share with all other women who can relate to my body shape. I would also love to have the opportunity to make a difference in the way society portrays what you ‘should look like’. I want to show other girls that beauty not only comes from within but also in a variety of shapes and sizes and that everyone should live a happy and healthy lifestyle!

Good luck Annabel!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Next up we hear from Sonya Kainth!

We’re half way through our interviews with our lovely top thirty for today, and closing on on 20 interviews…it won’t be long before we’re though all 30! Where did the time go?

Our next interview is with Charlotte Myers.

Hi Charlotte! Why don’t you tell our readers all about you?

My name is Charlotte, I am 22 and I am a primary school teacher. I love this job and feel lucky to have it – not everyone can say they get to hang out with 31 cool dudes all day can they?! It is super stressful too though, but I like to think that when children say things like, ‘You’re so beautiful I bet you have twenty husbands!’ Or ‘When I grow up I want to be Miss Myers!’ Or, ‘I saw this crisp on the floor and know how much you like crisps…!’ I can’t help but melt, and think that I must be doing something right!

I live with my Grandma and Grandad, and not-so-secretly, my favourite hobby is hanging out with them. (It was actually my Grandma who took my photos for Star In A Bra, so we aren’t the most conventional family!) I think it is this lack of convention in my life that has given me the confidence that I feel lucky to have. I have always been taught to believe in myself, to just go for what I want. With that, I have always been reminded not to have preconceptions that I will be the best or win. I have learnt to be myself, be real and try my hardest to achieve. I think that if something is right for me, with this attitude I will get it. If not, I won’t – as long as I know that I did the best I could then that’s an achievement within itself. This is what I try to tell the 31 cool dudes too!

Your class sound adorable, especially the crisp comment! Why did you decide to enter the competition this year?

I was slightly apprehensive at first, and even though I loved the idea of what Star In A Bra was promoting, I thought maybe I just wasn’t what they were looking for? Then the part of me overtook,the part I want to promote, the go for it side! What’s the worst that could happen?

I was supported by my friends and boyfriend and thought that since I spend so much time telling people how great they look, how they should embrace their bodies – I should show them. When I was growing up I was very flat chested. I did kick-boxing, so had a small, sporty frame. I did not like my body – I even got my grandma to sew padding into all of my bras and then I used to wear two of them to try and create an illusion! I would never wear a bikini, just shorts and a vest top, because I wanted to cover up my flat chest. Each night I would wish and wish that some boobs would just come to me! I drove myself crazy with it! Eventually, I grew into my own and even then, with the world’s most anticipated boobs, I wasn’t happy! I could always find something to moan about. (Which looking back I can’t believe!) When I started University, I suddenly felt grown up and began to really enjoy and appreciate my body. But, during my second year I had an accident which left me unable to walk for almost a year. It was during this time that my body changed again. I put on weight, one of my legs became misshapen when it lost its muscle from not being used, and with that, one of my butt cheeks became non-existent! When I started to get better, although my leg and backside improved, I was still not the same as I was before, and I became fed up once again with how I looked.

Over time, as the days went on, I was getting brain waves…like mini epiphanies! I decided, and at times just made myself to simply love what I had and how I was now. And slowly but surely, I managed it! With lots of physiotherapy to help with my leg, and mountains of positive thinking and reinforcement to make myself feel better, I suddenly realised that things can happen in life but the blame isn’t on us and we shouldn’t put ourselves down. You can live positively even when unfortunate things happen! I found it upsetting to focus on losing the weight that I had put on since the accident because I realised my body had changed but this didn’t mean it wasn’t still great, and instead realised that the weight I had become was equally as lovely, and so instead I would accept myself and maintain that weight instead. Now, it is more about how I feel and how I look, and I actually believe that I look better now than I did before – which I never thought I’d say! So with this new found confidence I thought I would try and spread the brainwaves!

It’s always the way – we want big boobs when we’re younger and then we hate them. Just one last question! Why do you think people should vote for you?

I’m a lady on a mission with a point to prove. I want to show women everywhere that you can do anything you set your mind to. Clinch and squeeze onto what you have been given and use it to the fullest! I don’t know a lady who is totally happy with their bodies. My friends, sister, Mum, Aunty, Grandma – this seems like madness to me, as they are all beautiful, totally different women. As we all are! It’s like this everywhere – it seems there is some sort of phenomenon going on and it just must end and I want to be part of ending this. We need to appreciate, show off and use what we have, allow our bodies to make us feel comfortable, don’t be fearful of it, just pick out our favourite parts, focus on those parts and only those parts! I have, like every lady, had my fair share of body worries. Maybe you could think it’s part of been a woman? Just the way it is? An inevitable and life-long truth? No! Any attitude can change. Sometimes we can see the beauty in others but forget to point out the same things in ourselves, and that would be a lovely thing to be part of changing by acting as a role model for this cause.

When you open a magazine and see the ‘ring of shame’ circling unsuspecting women for the most normal things ever, it can be slightly draining! We need to see many more (and more of them!) curvy women. It is only then we can all start to feel confident, tough, accepting and carefree in our bodies. Ideally, these magazines would be showing women as they are – voluptuous boobs, lively bums and all! Let’s start now…

Good luck Charlotte! 

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Next up we hear from Annabel Challenger!

It’s still freezing cold out there, so we’re using it as an excuse to snuggle up and read more interviews with our beautiful top 30. Did we really need another excuse?

Hi Katy! Let’s start with you telling our readers all about you.

Hello all! My name is Katy and I am 21 years old! I am currently a student at King’s College, London, about to finish my degree in Geography. Contrary to popular belief, this is much more than just colouring in maps and making papier-mâché volcanoes (although, I don’t like to brag, but I’m a dab hand at both!) I originally grew up in Leicester but I like to split my time between my studies in London and my family in Rutland. I’m a country girl at heart and love being outdoors and active – I’m on the committee of the mountaineering society at uni, which means you’ll usually find me at a rock climbing centre or roaming the hills of Snowdonia pretending to be a mountain goat and singing songs from the Sound of Music! Having said all that, I also love the city and spend hours plodding around museums, galleries and exhibitions making intellectual ‘hmmmmm’ type noises! I get pleasure out of simple, silly things like baking cakes, reading excessively long books about The Tudors, failing miserably at pub quizzes and prancing around the house pretending I’m a one woman musical extravaganza!

I have a very self-deprecating sense of humour! I never take myself too seriously; everything I say is tongue in cheek and everything I do is with the utmost ridiculousness! I think that life is too short to care about what other people think of you. As long as YOU are happy and healthy and having a fantastic time, then who cares about the opinions of others! This is partly why I want to represent Curvy Kate and become part of the ‘curvy girl revolution’ – who cares if people think you’re too chubby, too skinny, too tall or too small, as long as YOU know you’re fabulous!

Wise words! Why did you enter Star In A Bra this year?

I don’t want to spin a clichéd sob story but I was always the ‘fat one’ in my group of friends. I hit puberty and BOOM, boobs and bum popped out of nowhere. Combine that with the fact that I am the whitest shade of pale you will ever see and it’s understandable why my fellow pre-pubescents were not particularly nice! However, I was brought up around strong – and curvy – women, who told me that not caring what others think and being yourself, in the face of adversity, is the most important thing a woman can do for herself. I think it’s a very British trait to be suspicious of anyone who portrays the slightest bit of confidence in themselves; they MUST be narcissistic and full of themselves, right? Women tend to be the worst for doing this! We have enough difficulties in life without resorting to slating each other! We should be celebrating each other’s flaws, not criticising them! The fashion industry and the media encourages and perpetuates the mythical concept of ideal beauty, by only using slim models and highlighting the wobbly bits on celebrities in magazines, as if they’re a bad thing!

I entered the competition because I want to be part of a brand that encourages women to embrace those wobbly bits! The world would be a very boring place if we all looked the same. I want to see more Rubenesque women in the public eye! There needs to be a better representation of all shapes and sizes out there. Yes, of course there are women who are naturally slim, but there are also women, like me; like your best friend; like your mother; like your sister; like YOU, for whom that type of shape is completely unattainable and unrealistic. By not showing these types of women, we are inadvertently saying they are not beautiful. We NEED brands like Curvy Kate to stand up and say “Hey, guess what, it’s OKAY to look like you!” I want to practice what I preach, so I took a gulp of Dutch courage and started snapping away!

Good for you! Just one last question Katy – the one everyone hates me for! Why do you think people should vote for you to get to the top ten?

I’m so grateful to have made it this far, especially seeing as there are so many gorgeous girls in the top 30 this year! But people should vote for me because I believe that I represent the ethos of Curvy Kate. I have been everything from a size 8 to a size 16, but no matter my weight, I have always embraced my curves. I realise that some girls may have grown up without the same strong, confident support system of women that I had; I want to be that role model and am passionate about making a difference! I want women to embrace the way they look! It’s OKAY to have cellulite, it’s OKAY to have to have a bit of a muffin top, it’s OKAY to have feet that look like they’d be better placed in Middle Earth (okay, that one might just be me!) It’s these alleged ‘flaws’ that make us unique and it is high time society embraced them! Nobody should be made to feel that their body is hideous and if I can help women to feel even the slightest bit more confident and beautiful then I feel I’ll have done my job well. I want to help other women feel comfortable and confident in their own skin and I think that a good place to start is by wearing underwear that makes you feel amazing! Everyone is beautiful in their own way, be that the girl who is straight up and down like an ironing board or the girl with the boobs bigger than her own face! The most important thing is to be happy and healthy! So, throw away that self-doubt ladies, put on your best lingerie and your biggest smile and embrace your natural beauty, flaws and all!

Good luck Katy!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Next up we hear from Charlotte Myers!

It’s our fourth days of interviews and we heard from another five contestants. Are you sitting comfortably? Let’s get started!

Our first interview is with Victoria Duncan.

Good morning Victoria! Why don’t you start by telling our readers all about you?

Well I’m a 24-year old stay-at-home Mother to my beautiful 19-month old daughter, Felicity. I am originally from a modest town called Stevenage in Hertfordshire, but moved to Leeds to study Medical Sciences at University in 2007 and ended up staying here as I liked it so much! I married my husband after I graduated, and after having Fliss I decided to stay at home for a few years and am planning to go back into education when she’s in school. As much as I love raising her at home, I do miss indulging my geeky side and challenging my brain! So, aside from the odd combination of chemical equations and nursery rhymes, I am also quite musical and love performing – I play the flute, sing, and am attempting to teach myself piano. I used to sing in, arrange music for and teach a rock-gospel choir and was in an amateur dramatics society, and I liked to indulge in adrenaline-pumping sports such as snowboarding and skydiving; but these are all things that have sadly taken a back seat since becoming a mother. I feel sorry for my cat and my daughter – they are my audience now! Nowadays, I go to a pole fitness class once a week (I have a pole in my spare room among my musical instruments) which I would recommend to anyone, and I occasionally take part in charity events – I have a 5K run coming up soon!

Overall, I think I’m a comfortable mix of being shy and being an outgoing nutter, depending on who I’m with at the time! And lets not forget clumsy… I’ve been known to resemble Bambi on ice.

You sound very VERY busy! I’m like Bambi on ice too, I could fall down standing still on flat ground. Why did you decide to enter Star In A Bra?

When I was about 13, I wished I had big boobs – partly because my twin sister had boobs and I didn’t. My shape was somewhat akin to a “beanpole”, and I didn’t have much else going for me either, which made me a prime target for bullies. Then overnight (after spending many-a-night doing the “boob” exercise which appears in one of my favourite films, Grease!) these… THINGS appeared! I was delighted. They never stopped growing though, and it became a bit of a joke among my family and friends – and I really started to dislike how I looked. I even chose to lose 2 stone when I desperately wanted them to get smaller, and they went up a cup size resulting me me looking even more out-of-proportion, in my mind. I wasn’t entirely sure how to dress them either, which made me feel even more uncomfortable. They grew when I was pregnant and after I had my daughter, and even when I lost more weight I was (what felt like a massive) 28J, which to me felt ridiculous as I was a size 8 at the time. I couldn’t find swimwear, summer tops, or dresses to fit, and I wondered if people thought I was going to topple over, and the rest – I felt – didn’t take me seriously. After being consoled by the lovely fitting room ladies after being measured again and handed lots of tissues, I then realised the selection of lovely bras available to me through brands such as Curvy Kate, and was amazed with how gorgeous and sexy they were! They gave me advice on how to dress to flatter my shape, and I felt like a different person. I spent a ridiculous amount on a wonderful new collection, only to have my size change again a few months later when I took up pole fitness – I shrunk down to a 28G and am having to replace my whole underwear drawer again!

I decided to enter because it took a long time of me disliking how I look to realise that I have to embrace it – and this was especially important after some of my body issues were exacerbated by having post-natal depression. Coming out the other side of it is making me appreciate what I do have, and made me see that if I make the effort to dress the curves I have in beautiful lingerie I have nothing to be sad about! I also wanted to show people that Mothers can still prance around in their underwear and feel sexy too – even if it does mean the housework has got to wait for a little bit longer. Sometimes being whisked up in a toddler tornado can be so hectic that a Mother can forget that she’s still a “woman” as well, and I wanted to address that.

Wow, it sounds like you’ve gone on quite a journey to get to where you are today. Just one last question Victoria – why do you think people should vote for you?

Honestly, my confidence has taken such a boost from being picked to be in the Top 30 I’m worried my head may explode if I get any further! But in all seriousness, I think people should vote for me because I would love to show the overworked and overtired Mothers out there that they can still feel beautiful and sexy, even if there is baby food on their shoes!

I would also like people to vote for me because I am hoping to show that women of all sizes – big or small – can still be curvy, as it’s a shape and not a size; which appears to be a common misconception of late. Although I think, regardless of your shape, you should still embrace what you have and accentuate your assets – we’re all beautiful! I passionately believe that women shouldn’t have to feel the need to starve themselves or exercise well outside of their limits to aspire to one particular body shape that’s plastered all over the media – we are all built differently after all, and if we all looked the same we’d be covered in a wooly coat, eating grass in a field baa-ing at passing walkers! I would love to be a part of the movement to inspire women everywhere that all sizes and shapes are gorgeous. I have been both big and small, and am finally comfortable in my skin and hope to show it off in some more beautiful Curvy Kate lingerie!

Good luck Victoria!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Next up we hear from Katy Raynes!

We’re here – the half way point of our interviews. 15 down, 15 to go! It feels like only yesterday the gorgeous top 30 were announced and already we’re getting closer and closer to the end of the public vote. By don’t vote just yet, we still need to hear from the other half of our top 30!

Our last interview of the day comes from Alice Jackson.

Good afternoon Alice! Why don’t you tell our readers all about you?

I’m a positive 26-year-old gal who adores glitter! I was born and raised in the lovely county of Norfolk. A middle child between two brothers I grew up loving the countryside, smiling and constantly chatting. After a degree in Retail at Bournemouth University I left to explore the world with my best friend. My passion for new cultures, warm climates and adventure took me to Cambodia through to Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia….the list goes on. Travelling the world was incredible and I love to explore new countries. On a tight budget ourselves, we discovered that many people in the world are content with a fraction of what we in the West think of as necessities. I’m part of the London Surf Club visiting surf breaks around the UK. I feel so alive when I’m on my board gazing out to sea waiting for a set to roll in.

I’ve been working as a footwear researcher for the past 15 months in London. It’s a wonderful job with lots of creativity, fantastic people and passion. I’m someone who believes in taking life as it comes and giving your very best to everything you do. I love nothing better than being with my awesome friends either dancing the night away or having a Sunday roast in the local pub.

You’re pretty well travelled then! You’ve made us want to go on holiday…why did you decide to enter Star In A Bra this year?

A family friend entered the competition last year and was selected for the top 30. I thought she looked incredible and was interested to know more about Curvy Kate and Star in a Bra. I bought my first Curvy Kate bra from Debenhams and loved the fit. I was disappointed that I had missed last year’s competition and decided that 2013 would be the year I gave it a shot. My lovely friend India agreed to take some photos of me and the next thing I knew I was jumping around the flat posing away.

I really love the ethos behind Star in a Bra and I like the fact that Curvy Kate promotes healthy and curvy body images in a beautiful way. In today’s media the notion of what a normal and healthy figure should be has become so warped. It seems like an epidemic where no one is good enough and people are constantly scrutinised. As a former Anorexia sufferer I have come a really long way in recovering and truly accepting my body. Entering this competition has come at a time when I feel really good about myself and want to help to inspire others who perhaps feel a little unsure about their figures that curves are great and they should be embraced!

It sounds like you’ve been through a tough time but it’s great to hear that you’re now embracing your body and happy with yourself, you should be really proud of that. Just one last question – why do you think people should vote for you?

Getting into the top 30 felt utterly amazing and if the kind public would like to help me get into the top 10 I would be over the moon. Being happy and healthy is of the utmost importance and I want to be able to help and inspire others to believe that too. We need to stop these unrealistic and unattainable body ideals and ensure that women are content, no matter what their size. Nobody is perfect and it’s all about celebrating what you do have and enjoying your life, rather than being dissatisfied all the time.

We have a running joke in our family about the famous “Jackson bust” and I know my granny would be delighted if I carried on that legacy in the eye of the public!

Good luck Alice!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Come back tomorrow for more interviews!

And we’re onto our fourth interview of today – just one more left for today! It’s still freezing cold outside, a perfect excuse to put the kettle on and to get to know our top thirty a little better.

Our fourth interview of the day is with Caroline Matthews.

Good afternoon Caroline! Why don’t you start by telling our readers all about you?

Hello, my name is Caroline Matthews and I am 27. I have been hairdressing for 10 years , which I love, and I’ve been managing my own salon for 7 years. I believe in working hard to get what you want in life and I am also working on setting up another salon that will be themed on being green and ecological, which I am also very passionate about.

I am a thrill seeker and love to try new things and take part in various sports such as cycling, skating along the beach, swimming, skiing, dancing, kickboxing and recently completed a sky dive over Sydney beach.

I also like anything creative, artwork and different types of music.I have two sisters and I am a twin, I love my sisters and will do anything for them.

Your new salon sounds amazing! And you’ve been managing your own salon since you were 20? That’s fantastic, I bet you’re really proud of that. Why did you decide to enter Star In A Bra?

Why did I decide to enter- I have never done anything like this before, I thought it would be really fun to enter and a real confidence boost if I won. I love what Curvy Kate stands for and would like to be apart of an ongoing mission to boost the confidence of curvy girls. Underwear is a big part of feeling confident and when I was younger it seemed that this was not possible with what was available, it shows that we have moved on and we really need to carry on doing so. If we don’t make a stand for what we believe is right, then who will?

I couldn’t agree with you more. Just one last question Caroline – the one everyone hates me for, sorry! Why do you think people should vote for you?

This was a big decision for me and plucking up the courage to enter has already boosted my confidence but to go further in this competition would mean so much.
I would love to be one of the faces of Curvy Kate to promote curvy girls and feeling good to change people’s perceptions mostly caused by over air brushing and celebrities starving themselves on unhealthy diets.

I am ready to make a stand and say “we are beautiful too!”

Good luck Caroline!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Next up we hear from Alice Jackson!

We’re already onto our third interview of the day, and creeping ever closer to that half way mark! Soon enough we’ll have interviews with all 30 lovely ladies up on the blog so you can cast those three votes. I think the interviews are making things harder though, there’s too much choice!

Our next interview is with Chelsea MacColl.

Hi Chelsea! Why don’t you start the interview by telling us all about you?

My name is Chelsea, I’m 22 and wear a 30GG. I’m a real girly girl and love pink and sparkly things. I live in Norwich, Norfolk – but it’s safe to say I don’t live on a farm or have 6 toes like some people say about Norfolk folk! I graduated university last year with a First Class Bachelor of Arts with Honors degree in Dance and Professional Practice. Dance is such a passion of mine, and it really has become a massive part of who I am. Currently I have 3 jobs; my favorite being teaching dance and then I also coach drama and sport, and then waitress at the weekends. I’m such a people person and really love teaching. 3 jobs is hard work but I definitely think it’s worth the effort. I love socializing – I have a really big bunch of friends so am always finding myself doing something (hence needing the three jobs!), and I am very close to my family, my grandparents especially. I even took my Nan to be fitted properly at Bravissimo! I like to go out dancing, going to the cinema, the theater , for cocktails, for dinner, baking – I have a major sweet tooth. As well as dancing I am part of a cheerleading squad that compete, and like to keep fit by going to the gym and swimming.

Sounds like you’re a busy girl but I love that you took your Nan to Bravissimo! Why did you decide to enter the competition?

It was on a whim! I never thought that I would get into the top 30. I got an email through about the competition, and put it to the back of my head but then one morning I woke up and thought “why not?!”. My friends have always complimented me on my curves, in fact I am quite well known for them, but it has only been recently that I have truly accepted them. After having a cancer scare at 19 that left me with a scar on my left breast, the confidence that was there before disappeared. But that scar is now a part of me and my curves and I’m proud of it. I think it is hard when you are young to understand and accept such a womanly figure – I know I struggled with it, and I would like to help other young girls with it too. I was once told that your underwear can completely change your confidence and how you feel, and I don’t think that I truly understood that until I brought a Curvy Kate set – I couldn’t wipe the smile off of my face. It made me so much more confident, and now I completely value the importance of great underwear, not just for how it makes you look but how it makes you feel as well. I think more women, especially young girls, should know that.

It sounds like you’ve been through a lot to get where you are now, and well done you. Glad to hear Curvy Kate had something to do with that too! Just one last question Chelsea – why do you think people should vote for you?

I don’t let my curves stop me from doing anything, in fact the encourage me to do more. I want to encourage all women to be proud of their curves, warts and all. I want to make sure that every woman knows the impact that a correctly fitting, gorgeous underwear set can have. Curvy Kate represents that.

Being someone that is very active I know how important a properly fitted bra is and how important sports bras are. However, I feel as though this isn’t something that is very well known, especially by the younger generation. I would really like to help spread the word, to stop this from being such an issue. I am really passionate about helping the younger generation to understand their curves, and how to learn to love them. Curves are often interpreted as something that a woman has, so having them as a girl can be very daunting, especially considering some of the unwanted attention that they might bring. I want to help make every age, size and shape woman feel happy with who they are. I want to make a difference.

Good luck Chelsea!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Next up we hear from Caroline Matthews!

Another hour, another interview – aren’t you lucky? We’re powering through these interviews and before you know it, the public vote will have closed. Have you used your three votes yet? Hopefully you’ll wait until you read the rest of the interviews!

Our second interview of the day comes courtesy of Rachael Jones.

Hi Rachael! Let’s start with you telling our readers all about you.

My name is Rachael, and I am currently a 32G and sometimes a 32GG for now anyway as they continue to grow! I am also a vegetarian and try to live as healthy lifestyles as possible, and I live in Leicestershire. I recently graduated from university with a marketing degree. I love reading and having in depth conversions about everything and telling people what I saw/heard on QI. I also love playing tennis, watching tennis as well but only if Roger Federer is playing or Nadal. I like keeping fit by going to the gym as it helps to keep me stress free and fit. I love hanging out with friends and meeting new people; spontaneous and channeling experiences drive me because they help me to discover what I would like to pursue as a career and why I would love to travel and experience new things around the world. I love fashion, and everything Alexander McQueen. I would love to travel the world and would love to live in Chicago and hopefully one day become a fashion designer; most of my money goes on beauty products and clothes. I love Kim Kardashian and JLO because they are both curvy gorgeous women who have shown me that they are amongst the most beautiful women in the world because they have the confidence that I would love to have, they do whatever they want and wear whatever they want and I hope going further in this competition will have the same effect on me. From when I was about 12 I have always had bigger boobs than most people I know and I find it flattering when people mention them as they seem to always be the topic of conversion when I first meet people.

I’m not the only who obsesses over QI then, hooray! Why did you decide to enter the competition this year?

I entered on impulse, I’ve never been a skinny person and always had big boobs and they are still growing (!) which can make things difficult when going shopping to buy new clothes or wearing the clothes I already own. I also entered because I always see the models for Curvy Kate online and they all look gorgeous and I just wanted to see if I could have a chance to be among some of the most stunning and confident women I’ve seen modeling lingerie.

I have not always been the most confident person but I have never had any body issues as I have always accepted who I am physically. I personally don’t think that size matters when it comes to how good looking a woman is because from the Victoria Secret models to Beyonce they all have one thing in common they are comfortable in their own skin and that shows through to others are that’s what makes them attractive to people, confidence to do whatever they want to do.

I love the brand Curvy Kate as it provides gorgeous lingerie for ladies with big boobs and nowhere else that I’ve shopped at seems to think that even women with boobs want to feel good and look sexy.

I love how every year this competition seems to help people feel comfortable in their own skin, it’s the best part. Just one last question Rachael! Why do you think people should vote for you?

Most of the time I don’t like to wear clothes I much prefer to walk about in underwear and it would be nice if people got to see attractive lingerie instead of ‘old lady’ bras haha!  And I would also like the chance to model the best lingerie out there for ‘big boobed’ and curvy women like myself! I’ve accepted the fact that ill never look like a Victoria Secret model in underwear and I don’t think id want to now, all I get when I go out from random people and from friends is that they think that I have the ‘perfect figure’ and some might say I don’t but I think it’s perfect for me, so that’s why people should vote for me.

Good luck Rachael!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Next up we hear from Chelsea MacColl!

We’re onto our third day of interviews and catching up to the half way mark, can you believe it?! Today sees another five interviews so let’s get started.

To start the day, we hear from Chantelle Crabb.

Good morning Chantelle! Why don’t you kick things off by telling the readers all about you?

Hello! I’m Chantelle Crabb (aka Crabbers to my friends) and I’m 22 years old, wear a 30FF and i’m a size 12. I come from a small town on the edge of the Pennines called Holmfirth (better known as the home of “Last of The Summer Wine”). I love where I live as I’m a Yorkshire girl born and bred and I love the countryside, however I can make an exception for my student home town of Newcastle. I’m currently in my third year at Northumbria University where I study Fashion Marketing, and specialise in lingerie design. Lingerie is something that is incredibly important to me, not only because I find it interesting but because I’m a firm believer that lingerie can change the way you feel about yourself – and I’m living proof! I used to wear a 34DD and was constantly uncomfortable, I then went and got myself fitted properly and was told I was a 30FF (I nearly fainted) but its made such a difference. It makes you feel so much more confident.

In my spare time – when I’m not designing – I like to go out with friends for a pint of bitter in my local pub, go on long walks around the Yorkshire moors with my Mum and her foster children, eat out, shop and I absolutely love to cook with my boyfriend (and eat; these curves didn’t make themselves!) I like to think of myself as a very confident and out-going person and I never hold back on anything that I want to succeed in. I love a challenge and this seems like a perfect opportunity.

Glad to hear you’re already a lingerie enthusiast! Why did you decide to enter Star In A Bra?

I entered for two reasons, and two reasons only:

1. I love my boobs! They’re my favourite asset and I want an excuse to show them off! Ever since I got fitted properly I feel like a different person, my clothes fit better, I don’t get back ache and they make my boobs something to be proud of!
2. I believe in everything that Curvy Kate stands for, they are such an amazing brand. They embrace  women and make them realise their own beauty by making them feel amazing on the inside and out. I want to show others that simply changing your underwear can change your attitude and modelling for a company that stands by exactly that; it seemed silly not to enter. So really it was a no-brainer.

Two very good reasons to enter! Just one last question Chantelle, the nasty one! Why do you think people should vote for you?

People should vote for me because I am a normal girl…I’m normal because I’ve “been there and done that” when it comes to saying repeatedly “I want to be slimmer”, “I wish I looked like….”, “I’m never eating again” after scoffing a KFC and I got bored of wanting to be something I’m not. I’m fed up of being pressurised into looking a certain way by the media, I’m happy, healthy and love my shape so why should I change?!

I think I deserve peoples votes as I know a million girls out there who can relate to this and I want them to change the way they see themselves and to embrace their curves too! Last year’s winner Sophie Morgan is an inspiration and I would feel so proud and privileged if I inspired even one girl to change the way she sees herself and begin to love who she is and her curves.

Good luck Chantelle! 

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Next up we hear from Rachael Jones!

We’re on our fifth and final interview on this cold Wednesday and a third of the way through all the interviews for this years UK competition, can you believe it?! Never fear, there are still 20 interviews left with our beautiful top 30. So without further ado…

Our final interview of the day is with Helen Johnson.

Afternoon Helen! Why don’t you tell our readers all about you?

Hi there! I’m Helen and I live in Cambridge, where I work as a Senior Medical Writer. Some of my favorite things in life are strawberry quality streets, salsa dancing, camping, playing my harp (badly), live music, road trips and being near the sea. I’d love to learn to ride a motorbike, and to learn to surf, and I know how to do the Hakka. (!) I always try to see the positive side of things and I truly believe that anyone can do anything if they set their mind to it. I try to live life true to my favorite quote – life begins at the edge of your comfort zone – because it really does! All of my biggest achievements have felt really difficult and unnatural to begin with (including taking photos of myself in my pants for this competition!) but it’s always been worth the effort.

Over the last couple of years this, and the fact that I love a challenge, has seen me don my lycra and cycle 300 miles from London to Paris, followed by an equally painful but rewarding trip cycling 350 miles from London to Brussels, and a soul destroying 60 mile walk from London to Brighton which took 32 hours and cost me 4 toenails, all in the name of a few charities very close to my heart! I’ve now set my sights on completing a triathlon. Despite the physical fitness I’ve gained from these events I always remain the same shape and weight.. i’m obviously destined to be curvy!!

Four toenails?! We hope they’ve grown back! Sounds like you’re crazy busy though, and we’re impressed with the Hakka! Maybe if you get to the photo shoot you can do a rendition for us?! Why did you decide to enter Star In A Bra?

A couple of months ago I had some major surgery and it was whilst I was at home recovering that I spotted the Curvy Kate competition. I decided I’d had enough of feeling like an invalid and it was the perfect thing to make me feel good about myself again! I love everything that Curvy Kate stands for and their underwear is just so gorgeous and comfortable for us larger chested ladies, so to have the opportunity to be an ambassador for them wasn’t to be missed!

The competition means a lot to me as for many years I felt that despite my academic and personal achievements all people saw when they looked at me was blonde hair and big boobs – I rarely have a night out without someone grabbing me to ask ‘are those real?’! Friends were always telling me that they wished they had my figure but I felt like I might be taken more seriously if I didn’t. As I’ve got older I’ve stopped caring what people think, I’ve embraced my curves and have never felt more confident in them, they are part of who I am! Entering this competition was my big chance to say this is me, and I’m proud of what I look like.

Wow, well at least something good came out of your surgery and it’s great to hear how it’s made you feel good about yourself. Why do you think people should vote for you?

People will always want to change something about themselves, but I want to make sure that nobody ever wishes they didn’t have their gorgeous curves! I love mine, and I think when you are confident in yourself it really shines through. I would like everyone to vote for me so that I can be an inspiration to all the other ladies out there looking for underwear that flatters them and is as attractive as they are. I want them to see that curves can look fabulous, and encourage them to throw away their insecurities, and make the most of life!

Good luck Helen!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Come back tomorrow for five more interviews!

Somehow we’re already on our fourth interview of the day – time flies when you’re having fun with our beautiful top 30. With just one interview left for the day after this, we best get on with things.

Our next interview is with Hollie Gilson.

Good afternoon Hollie! Why don’t you tell our readers all about you?

I am a 27 year old living in Chelmsford, Essex. I am a size 12 and I wear a 32G bra size. It has taken me a good ten years to feel comfortable about the way I look and having big boobs has not helped this. I longed to have a small cup size so that I could buy smaller prettier bras and find clothes that fitted me. That has all changed now and I truly love the way I look, I know that I am not perfect but I am happy with what I have got. That combined with the positive media and advertising that has come out of competitions such as Star In A Bra have improved my self confidence and knowledge about where I can find well made, pretty bras that don’t cost a fortune.  So now a bit about me as a person… I currently work as a primary school teacher and I really enjoy my job and feel that I have a career that makes a difference in society. I live with my long term boyfriend who has been very supportive about me entering the competition and has always said that I should show off my curves! When I am not working I enjoy the usual twenty something lifestyle of socialising with friends and spending time with my family. My friends are very important to me and when we are free we like to get together for a bit of girly pampering and some much needed vino. I often check up on them as well and make sure they are wearing the right size bra as this is something that is important to me. I do believe so many women out there have either not been measured properly or even at all and that we need to sort this out so I have started by sorting my friends and family out! I like to keep healthy but I am not a gym person, I prefer to swim for exercise and I do watch what I eat during the week but then allow myself treats at the weekend.

I’m glad I’m not the only person who doesn’t go the gym, I’m far too lazy for that! Why did you decide to enter Star In A Bra this year?

I entered because I am finally at a time in my life where I feel confident about my body and who I am. I enjoy buying underwear now that there is more variety for bigger busts and I would consider it an honour to be able to advertise Curvy Kate products and show what a healthy female body looks like. I hope that this would give other women the confidence to show off what they have and to not be afraid to get fitted for the correct size bra! I also feel very strongly about educating people about bra sizes. It really annoys me when someone in the media may be said to have a 36DD chest when this is clearly not the case and that they are probably more of a 32F or something. It seems to me that the majority of people think that anything above a D cup is massive but this is not always true as you have to take into account the back size. I was a late developer and it wasn’t until I reached 17 that I realised I had a big chest. Unfortunately, because of the lack of pretty large bras and my low confidence I didn’t get measured and just assumed that I was a size 36D. These bras were never comfy and I didn’t feel fully supported. It wasn’t until a couple of years later that I got measured in a store and came out as a 34FF. However, it still didn’t feel quite right and there were never any bras that looked nice. It wasn’t until I discovered a company online, that sell underwear for bigger boobs and have some shops around the country, that I truly found out my correct bra size was a 32G! Soon after this I discovered Curvy Kate online and realised that there were pretty bras out there that catered for larger boobs! So I have entered in the hope that I can give something back to the young girls today and make them feel that they can go and get measured and feel proud about the body they have!

I’m glad you managed to finally find your right size…albeit with some hiccups along the way! Just one last question…why do you think people should vote for you?

People should vote for me because I represent the everyday girl! I think that I’m down to earth and that people could relate to me. I’m not perfect but I’m real and I fully embrace and accept my curves and I’m proud to show them off.  I would hope that people would read what I have said and look at my pictures and think to themselves this is an everyday, girl next door type and if she can do it then anyone can! I am always moaning about the amount of unrealistic and often unhealthy body images that are splashed all over the media. As a teacher I recognise the importance of having positive role models for our children and that we should be promoting healthy lifestyles. I would love to be a part of changing peoples perceptions and educating young women about how to look after their boobs by wearing the right sizes…because lets face it you wouldn’t buy a pair of shoes two sizes too small for your feet so don’t do it for your boobs!

Good luck Hollie!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Next up, we hear from Helen Johnson!

It seems like we only just started and already we’re onto our third interview of the day! We’re powering through these chats with our top thirty, have you voted yet?

The next interview comes courtesy of Melissa Holden.

Hi Melissa! Let’s start with you telling our readers all about yourself.

 Hello everybody! My name is Melissa Holden, I’m 19 years young and I love love love to sing. I’m from a little village outside Blackpool called Preesall, some people would say I’m from Farmers Land, but I disagree (although my dad is a farmer). After completing my two years at college, where I studied Music and Media, I’m currently trying to pursue a career in singing and as a part time job I work in my mum’s chippy. I consider myself a very outgoing, fun loving person who sometimes takes things quite serious (who doesn’t?). I love spending time with my family, going out for dinner, bus journeys with my headphones in, meeting new people, running, sunny days, bowling with my boyfriend, eating chocolate, nights out with my friends and learning to speak Spanish. I don’t consider myself to be very organised. I love random plans and living on the edge, life would be boring if everything was perfect.

Good luck Melissa!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Next up, we hear from Hollie Gilson!

We’re onto our second interview of the day already and I’ve had God only knows how many cups of tea…is it spring time yet?! Still, is there a better way to spend a cold day than reading interviews with our wonderful top 30? I’m not so sure…

Next we speak to Grace Pybus.

Hey Grace! Let’s start this interview with you telling our readers all about you…

Hello I am Grace Pybus a 21 year old Photography for Fashion and Advertising student in my third and final year of University in South Wales! As a person I am rather down to earth, honest, genuine and I would say I am non intentionally funny (this can be a good and bad thing!).  In terms of personality I really live on the edge, I love to travel and try out crazy things; I have bungee jumped, swam with sharks, paraglided and sky dived! I have a wonderful family that support me in all my adventures that I am extremely close with.

I don’t really go to the gym or anything but I love to get my heart racing trying new and extraordinary things. Being a photography student I am continuously behind a camera shooting fashion and documentary images, this has enabled me to work with some amazing people and get to go to some beautiful places!

Overall I am the kind of girl that you would get on with, I have many gorgeous  friends that I love hanging out with and of course, go shopping with!

Wow, you sound like a bit of an adrenaline junkie – you’re braver than I am! Why did you decide to enter Star In A Bra?

I entered this competition because my fabulous flatmate told me about Curvy Kate and their mission to find the new Star In A Bra, so without her I would have not known anything about it! After reading the entry details I felt that I would be appropriate to enter! I loved everything that Curvy Kate stood for, as a brand and image it really suited me as a person, and if I could be a part of that it would be incredible! I have never entered for anything before and when I was introduced to this competition I was instantly drawn to the brand and the overall image it represented!

Can we just a huge thanks to your friend as well?! Just one last question Grace and sadly it’s the one everyone hates, sorry! Why do you think people should vote for you?

I honestly believe people should vote for me because I could represent everything that needs to be represented in today’s media society, I want girls to look at people like me (slightly chubby, big boobies and a wobbly tummy) and feel that it is okay to be bigger than what you see on the cat walk. As a person I am genuine honest and upbeat, if I could represent Curvy Kate it would make my life, having big boobs would be a bonus! There are 29 other gorgeous women in this competition so we all deserve a vote, only you the public can decide! I just hope I appeal to you fabulous ladies (and gentlemen) out there!

Good luck Grace!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Next up, we hear from Melissa Holden!

It’s our second day of interviews with our beautiful top thirty and we have another five interviews for you to read. I don’t know whether it’s helping me choose who to vote for or making it harder!

We start the day with Fiona Hood.

Good morning Fiona! Why don’t you start the interview (and the day!) by telling us all about you?

My name is Fiona, I am 24 years old and I come from a town just outside of Cambridge. I am currently studying Graphic Design at Nottingham Trent University so I spend a lot of my time in Nottingham too. If I had to describe myself I would say I am confident, outgoing, full of energy, yet down to earth. I love spending time with my friends and love just laughing and having a good time. Other little facts about me is I love dancing, reading, playing xbox, films, summer time, going out to eat/drink, hot relaxing baths skiing, festivals, shopping, horse riding, traveling, make up artistry, lingerie and shoes! Being curvier has always been a big part of who I am. I have always been curvier than my friends and by the start of secondary school I was already measuring as a 32DD, but even then I never felt awkward, I enjoyed the fact I was curvy and always felt confident with my body shape and over the years I’ve only got curvier and although I struggle with my body image at times like most of us do, I will always celebrate the fact I have curves and embrace them. When I’m not studying I work part time as a bra fitter for a company that aims at larger busted ladies, and I love my job! Its amazing how a great fitting lingerie set can enhance your figure and how fantastic it can make you feel on inside. I love that I get the chance to help ladies feel great about themselves and encourage them to love their curves to way I’m encouraged to love mine.

That’s great that you can fit bras – spreading the fitting message! Lingerie really does make all the difference. Why did you decide to enter Star In A Bra?

I was made aware of this competition last year by my mum joking that I should enter. I was tempted to, but then I had to schedule some surgery for April and in the run up to April I wasn’t feeling like I looked my best and was quite self conscious about the idea and just thought ‘next year’! Now this years rolled round, I was still doubtful I should enter, but I just thought ‘you know what I said I would and I might as well, what’s the harm in giving it a go!’ I’m so glad I did! Being picked for the top 30 has given me the boost I need, who cares I put on a bit of weight after being ill, I’m just even more curvier! This competitions about having curves and flaunting them. And I see women do this everyday! So why shouldn’t I showcase mine?! So here I am!

I bet you’re glad you finally managed to enter this year! Just one last question…why do you think people should vote for you?

People should vote for me because I feel I’m a good representation of curvy girls everywhere, needing that big boost of confidence and wanting to feel comfortable in their own skin. I want to help show the world that you don’t have to be a certain type to feel and be beautiful and that you shouldn’t always feel the need to control your diet in an attempt to achieve the ‘ideal’ body. Being happy and healthy is the most important thing, and women everywhere should embrace what they are given and make the most of it and enjoy who they are. Its taken me a few years to finally understand this for myself, and I would love the chance to represent a brand that feels just as strongly as I do, which is why Curvy Kate is the perfect brand for me. Getting in to the top 30 alone has been an unbelievable experience, one I never expected to happen! But getting further than that, would just be amazing!

Good luck Fiona!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Next up, we hear from Grace Pybus!

Can you believe we’re on our last interview of the day?! It’s flown by! Luckily there’ll be five more interviews each day for the rest of the week – busy times at the Curvy Kate blog!

Our final interview of the day comes from Alisha Joseph.

Good afternoon Alisha! Let’s start with you telling the readers a little about yourself…

Hi I am Alisha and I am 28 years old. I work as a part time secretary and am a mum to my gorgeous 3 year old son. I love travelling, swimming, shopping (as us girls do best) and just spending quality time with my family and friends.

I bet your little boy is proud of you for getting through! Why did you decide to apply for Star In A Bra this year?

I have always been a fan of Curvy Kate, and had followed the competition the year before and I always thought it was such a great campaign and so amazing to see fuller sized curvy women modelling lingerie, it totally breaks the mould.

But I didn’t feel confident enough to apply before and was also a little worried about putting pictures of myself in very little up onto the internet or of any negative attention that might bring. But after lots of support from my partner, friends and family and the fact I have bikini shots up on my facebook from holidays anyway, I decided that I would just go for it! I really didn’t expect to get through and am totally shocked to be in the top 30!

That’s great that you’re already a Curvy Kate fan. Just one last question and I’m afraid it’s the one everyone hates, sorry! Why should people vote for you?

I would love for people to vote for me as I would be so proud to be part of such a fantastic campaign that celebrates the female form as it naturally should be. I would like to inspire other woman to help them realise that having your own, unique curves is beautiful. I know many women that struggle with their bodies especially with the image that the media and brands present us with and I feel we need to encourage positive body imagery among beautiful, curvy and healthy women and I would love to be part of that.

Good luck Alisha!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Come back to the blog tomorrow for five more interviews!

Just in time for lunch it’s our fourth interview of the day, and with only one left to go up we’re speeding through this catch up with our stunning top 30.

Next up we speak to Lotte Williams.

Hi Lotte! Why don’t you start by telling the readers all about you?

I’m Lotte, a 22 year old from Colchester enjoying life as a fashion student in London. I am currently studying Public Relations in my final year at London College of Fashion and when I finish my degree in May I hope to continue working in the industry.

Being part of a world in which size 6 is the norm has never affected my self confidence but in turn has encouraged me to discover a sense of style that enhances my natural hour glass shape. I love the pin-up girls and icons of the 50′s such as Bettie Page and Jayne Mansfield who wore their curves with pride and have inspired me to do the same; along with a dose of red lippy (of course)! As a student, I split my time between working hard and having fun, so when my head isn’t glued to a computer screen writing my dissertation I am out an about in London, shopping, eating, soaking up the culture, spending time with my Dad and of course getting dressed up and enjoying nights out.

When I’m not spending hours and hours chatting with my gorgeous housemates in London (which is all that ever happens in a house of five girls!), I’m either in Colchester, Essex visiting my Mum and my chubby cat Louis or spending as much time as possible in Norwich with my lovely, long term boyfriend Will.

I had a feeling from your pictures you were into the retro look, I wish I could get my red lipstick to look that neat (never going to happen!). Why did you decide to enter Star In A Bra?

I work part time in a lingerie boutique in Colchester (my hometown) called Boutique 65 and we stock Curvy Kate. The lovely Michelle introduced me to the brand and I instantly fell in love. Any lingerie brand that caters for bigger busts gets my support (no pun intended)! Ever since, my Mum and I have been ambassadors of Curvy Kate, encouraging all of our friends and family to go out and try a set.

It was through Boutique 65 that I heard about the competition and knew straight away I wanted to enter! I love posing for a photo (as anyone that knows me would tell you) and am incredibly proud of my hourglass figure. Star In A Bra is the perfect opportunity for me to show the world my confidence in that hope that I can inspire other girls of all ages to be happy with their bodies and comfortable in their own skin!

I may have to pay a visit to this boutique, it sounds amazing! Just one last question – why do you think people should vote for you?

In my ideal world, bouncy boobs, juicy bottoms and wobbly bits would be shown in the media, so that young girls could grow up to understand what is healthy and to admire how real women look. I really believe I would be the perfect ambassador for Curvy Kate as I myself am curvy, confident and passionate about making a difference. I cannot think of anything more rewarding than another women seeing my photo, putting away the diet book, buying a gorgeous set of lingerie and feeling inspired to stay true to who they are.

Good luck Lotte!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Next up, we hear from Alisha Joseph!

And we’re onto our third interview of the day! We’ve put the kettle on to try and warm us up and whilst we read all these interviews with our gorgeous girls.

This time we hear from Michelle Lagden.

Hi Michelle! Let’s start this interview off with you telling readers all about yourself.

I am a happy, down to earth young women, with a great personality, glowing skin and smile, with my memorable natural, long, curly locks and curvaceous figure, I always turn heads wherever I go! My close friends and family tell me I’m beautiful inside and out, which is unfortunately quite hard to find these days. However I have not always been so body confident, battling with my appearance throughout my teenage years, but I’m finally in tune with the way I look. I’m curvy and proud! But like any women I’m not perfect, I do have the odd day, where I’m not feeling great, but that’s only human!

I am a family orientated girl, I love spending time with my family, they’re my best friends, I wouldn’t be who I am today without them.

I am SO jealous of your curly hair! It’s great that you’re finally feeling confident enough with yourself now, why did you decide to enter Star In A Bra?

I entered Star in a Bra 2013 because I want to show the nation you don’t have to be surgically enhanced or a cat walk model to be deemed a worthy beauty. I love my curves, I wouldn’t change them for the world and want to embrace my natural beauty with everyone involved in Curvy Kate. I feel winning Star in a Bra 2013 would be the icing on the cake for me, I’d be the happiest girl in the world!

One last question Michelle, and it’s the nasty one! Why do you think people should vote for you?

People should vote for me because I have the confidence, personality and appearance to excel within this opportunity! I’d give it my absolute all given the chance as I’ve always wanted to be a lingerie model, but until Curvy Kate I’ve never fit the criteria. I want to break the mould and show everyone what I’m made of, what an amazing confidence boost that would be!

Good luck Michelle!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Next up, we hear from Lotte Williams!

We’re straight onto our second interview of the day already and with five interviews a day with our beautiful top thirty, let’s get stuck in!

This time we speak to Rachel Nicoletti.

Good morning Rachel and welcome to Star In A Bra 2013! Let’s start with you telling our readers a little about yourself.

Hi, my name is Rachel, I’m 19 years old, currently studying and working part time. I am studying for a degree in English Literature and Language with The Open University and working as a supervisor in a clothing store. I absolutely love my job, dressing different women has made me appreciate the diversity of body shapes and how correct lingerie can completely transform an outfit. Having studied various styles of dance throughout my childhood and teenage years, I have always been aware of my body image. Being on stage and wearing figure hugging costumes has helped build my confidence in myself and my body.

A fellow Open University student! It also sounds like your job has really had a positive effect on you, no one should underestimate the power of good lingerie! Why did you decide to enter Star In A Bra?

I entered Star in a Bra to show that body confidence comes with a positive mind set, not a flawless body! Although we are now more aware than ever about the powers of Photoshop, we still strive for impossible ideals. The media constantly uses the word ‘curvy’ in a negative way when in fact it should be celebrated. In my job, I always see women trying on clothes and picking on the negative aspects of their body, and completely missing all of the positives. I wish there weren’t such high expectations on women to look a certain way, but encouragement to embrace their individuality.

I couldn’t agree more, what a great attitude to have. Just one more question! Why do you think people should vote for you?

I don’t think I deserve to be voted for any more, or any less than the other gorgeous girls in the Top 30. But I would love to represent Curvy Kate as I think their ethos is perfection! No one should strive to look like anybody else but themselves. It’s so refreshing to see models used that the products are actually designed for!

Good luck Rachel!

To cast your vote, head on over to the Curvy Kate Facebook page.

Next up, we hear from Michelle Lagden!