A mum from Hayes has undergone a huge transformation since the first lockdown – from a size 20 optician’s manager lacking in body confidence, to now, a UK Calendar Girls entrant.

Being on furlough last year meant that 15-stone-weighing Helen Berriman, 45, had the newly-found time to cook herself healthy meals.

She quickly lost four stone, became a size 14, and one evening after a glass of wine found herself applying for a modelling advert while scrolling through Facebook.

It boasted “all shapes and sizes welcome” and Helen’s hobbyist photographer husband helped her with some pictures to send in.

The mum-of-one and step-mum-of-two said: “Before I knew it, I was on a lingerie site advertising products and from there I got myself an Instagram account and the modelling offers just kept coming.

“Then, one afternoon I got a message from the UK Calendar Girls team inviting me to apply for their 2021 casting competition.

“My husband took some more snaps and I was notified the same day that I had reached the next stage.

“At the age of 45 I was at the very top of their age scale (18-45) and was then invited to a casting day where I had my hair and makeup done professionally and was photographed by five different people.

“It went from being a contest of 1,000 people, to now 220 people, and if I get voted into this next stage I’ll be in the final 80.”

News Shopper: Helen is down to the final 220 people in with a chance of being in the next Calendar Girls editionHelen is down to the final 220 people in with a chance of being in the next Calendar Girls edition

Votes for Helen to be in the next Calendar Girls edition close on August 13 – coincidentally her 46th birthday.

She says it’d be the most “amazing” present if she was to get to the next round.

She added: “The reason I’m doing this is to show people that you’re never too old.

“Life is short, Covid taught us that, so grab life and do what you want to do with it.

“I’d been in optics bored out of my mind and on anti-depressants for 20 years, and now I’m not bored or on medication – it’s definitely been life changing.

“We’ve all got a body, and it doesn’t have to be a size 10, and we’ve all got wobbly bits, saggy bits and scars.”

Helen has had a mixed response to her newly-found career from her children, with her 20-year-old step daughter getting into modelling herself, her 18-year-old step daughter disinterested and her 14-year-old daughter “quite embarrassed” by her mum's antics.

She said: “I’ve had to go shopping and get myself a whole new wardrobe which I’ve liked.

“I do think to myself, ‘why are they asking me?’ or ‘why do they want me?’ and I still don’t know, but it’s awesome.

“I’m pretty much the oldest one but it doesn’t matter because I enjoy it and I just do my thing.”

She added: “It had never crossed my mind to model before but I feel a million times better and I’m doing things now that I never would have thought of doing.”

To vote for Helen text 'UKCG 053' to 81400 - texts cost £1.50​ plus standard network rates with 15 per cent going to The Chestnut Appeal and Mental Health Awareness.

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