WATCHING stick-thin, size zero models sent a shiver down the spine of Suffolk student Georgina Veness .Now the teenager, who has always been proud of her “curves ”, has bucked the trend and voiced some words of wisdom after becoming a finalist in a national competition aimed at finding models of all shapes and sizesEighteen-year-old Georgina, a size 12 to 14, beat off the challenge of thousands of aspiring models to become one of six finalists looking to represent the average British woman today.

WATCHING stick-thin, size zero models sent a shiver down the spine of Suffolk student Georgina Veness .

Now the teenager, who has always been proud of her “curves ”, has bucked the trend and voiced some words of wisdom after becoming a finalist in a national competition aimed at finding models of all shapes and sizes

Eighteen-year-old Georgina, a size 12 to 14, beat off the challenge of thousands of aspiring models to become one of six finalists looking to represent the average British woman today.

The beaming youngster, who lives in Bulmer Tye, near Sudbury said she was attracted to the competition as it was not looking for a size zero - or British size four - model.

“I don't think these types of models are a good influence for young people and this competition shows you can be proud just being who you are,” Georgina said.

“It shows that it is okay to love your curves and be yourself and still be viewed as gorgeous. I saw an advertisement in the magazine and I wanted to give it a go as they were looking for just an average girl and not the usual thin models.

“It is not all about being thin, I am a proud and confident person and I think you achieve so much more by just being normal.”

Georgina currently combines studying at Braintree College, where she is in her last year as a beauty therapist student, with working at Spa Haven beauty salon in Sudbury.

But despite being narrowly beaten to the overall title in the Body Beautiful Model competition, run by Sunday Telegraph magazine Stella, she said she loved every part of her brush with a career in modelling.

She said: “When I arrived, everyone was so lovely and it was great having a makeover and fashion shoot.

“It was amazing when I found out I had beaten so many people. I didn't believe it at first - I was so proud and pleased. All the finalists were just young, average people. Beauty isn't all about being thin or tall. It's about having confidence in your own body.”

The competition - run in conjunction with leading model agency ICM and high street chain River Island - looked for a woman, size 12 to 16 and aged 16 to 24 years old.

The overall winner was Nia Sheppeard , a 16-year-old from Wales who was described as looking like a young Catherine Zeta Jones.

A spokesman for the judging team said: “The thing that blew me away was how confident all the girls were. They were all comfortable with their bodies and their sizes - it was so refreshing.”