Poppy Adams from Leigh set to star in Yours TV advert

Poppy, from Leigh, beat thousands of other women to win a model search competition to become one of faces of the brand’s New Heritage seasonal collection.

The ad campaign, which feature on prime-time ITV slots, launched last Monday and sees Poppy modelling some of the company’s fit-to-flatter designs, which are available in sizes 14 to 36.

Poppy, who works as a freelance make-up artist after graduating from the London College of Fashion, entered the contest, which asked entrants to post their photos online, after nagging from her boyfriend.

“I decided to enter the competition mainly because of the constant insistence from my boyfriend that I should try modelling. I don’t think any of this would have happened without his support and encouragement,” said Poppy.

“I think it was also partly out of pure curiosity, and to see just how far I could make it.

Uploading a selfie onto Instagram was easy enough, I just thought, what do I have to lose?

“When I found out I’d won I was honestly in complete and utter shock. I had a casting in Manchester a few days before and had no idea whether it had gone brilliantly or badly, so I really was genuinely surprised and so overwhelmed...I might have even shed a few cheeky tears!”

Poppy, who wears a size 24-26, had never even thought about modelling prior to her big break.

She said: “All of this is a complete first for me. I work as a makeup artist and am used to working in fashion-based environments, but being in front of the camera is a completely different kettle of fish. It’s so strange to be in a room and have all eyes on you – I’m not used to it!”

It’s no big surprise that most women suffer from negative body image at some point in their lives. Being a bit bigger can also draw criticisms or even “fat shaming” from some. Has Poppy ever experienced anything like this?

“I’ve definitely suffered from low confidence, particularly in my teenage years. When I was younger, I was cripplingly shy and hid away from being in the limelight – being the centre of attention was my idea of hell,” she said.

“I think it all boiled down to the fact that because I didn’t like myself, I felt as though I didn’t deserve to be happy.

Looking back now, I so regret not saying ‘yes’ to things and I wish I had the confidence I have now. I’ve never felt pressure to slim down because of others or society, as I’ve never personally received negativity about my size.

“The only person that has ever pressured me to lose weight is myself.

“I won’t lie and say that I feel 100 per cent fabulous every single day, but I feel as though I’ve been on a journey in the past few years and I’ve begun to accept myself and my body.

There’s more to life than the way you look. I am happy and I’m loved and that’s all that really matters.”

Plus-size models are coming into their element at the moment and we are seeing more and more high street chains using plus-size models to reflect all body shapes and sizes.

“I think it’s great,” said Poppy.

“I love that brands are embracing different shapes and sizes. I think it’s so important to show that just because you have a fuller figure, it doesn’t mean you can’t look fashionable and feel amazing. Girls and young women can be any shape and any size, big or small, and still be beautiful, particularly with all the negativity in trashy magazines that body shame women.

“I’m a massive advocate for body confidence regardless of what you look like and I think it’s so great that a brand like Yours has set out to embrace this.”

Luckily for Poppy, she was a fan of Yours clothes before she started modelling for them. The chain’s Essex branches include Southend, Lakeside in Thurrock, the Eastgate Shopping Centre in Basildon and also in Pier Avenue, Clacton.

“I love Yours clothing! I’ve been shopping there for years. I actually worked for the Southend branch for almost a year which I absolutely loved. I feel as though Yours have seriously upped their game over the last year, the clothes they’re coming out with recently are amazing and so on trend,” she said.

“To be able to represent a brand I truly believe in and love was so important to me. I genuinely loved all the clothes I wore in both the TV advert and the Heritage photoshoot.”

But when it comes down to it, if truth be told, if Poppy could click her fingers and become a size eight overnight, would she?

“I think anybody that has suffered from body confidence because of being bigger would love to think that being a size eight would solve all of their problems, but in reality I think not.

“You have to change the way you feel about yourself before you change yourself physically. Even if I was a size eight I’d still find things I would want to change about myself. It wouldn’t make my life any better, so my answer would be no, I wouldn’t.”

Poppy describes her signature style as “classic and feminine with an edge”.

“I love the Fifties pin-up style and shapes (small waists and skater skirt styles, along with the liner flicks and red lips!), but I like to mix that up with a bit of grit and edge – that’s probably where my tattoos come in! I’ll wear a really girly floral skater dress, but I’ll team it with a leather jacket and some chelsea boots.”

And she cites her fashion icon as Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine: “I think her style is amazing. I’m all about the vintage floaty chiffon fabrics and the silky pussybow shirts, but sadly I don’t think I can pull them off quite like her!

“I also love Christina Hendricks. I think she’s absolutely beautiful. (As you can probably tell, I’m quite partial to ginger locks, hence my own!)”

As for the future, what does that hold in store for Poppy?

I’m continuing to work in makeup and I would absolutely love to work further in the modelling world. This glimpse into the plus-size fashion industry has been nothing but positive and I have nothing but positive things to say about Yours Clothing as a company.

Their team have been so incredibly kind and welcoming to me.

“I think this campaign has shown and represented the diversity of women. Although we are all different ages, shapes and sizes, we are all beautiful.”