A mother who lost almost a third of her body weight has been crowned Slimming World’s Miss Slinky 2018.
Sophie Jude, 23, went from a size 16 to a size eight after struggling with her weight from a young age.
The skincare specialist, who lives in Nottingham, went from 12st 11 and a half lb to 8st 11 and a half lb after her size led to her abandoning her goal of being a dancer.
Ms Jude said: “I remember one occasion where a teacher took me outside of the classroom in front of everyone and told me that I was talented but that I needed to lose weight if I was going to make it.
“In the end I became so upset about my size that I gave up on my dream of becoming a dancer because I didn’t feel as though I’d ever be accepted in the industry at the size I was.”
The mother-of-one added that her most embarrassing moment came on her second date with partner Carl.
After spilling a glass of wine and needing a change of clothes, she had to dry her “big Bridget Jones pants” on his radiator.
Sophie Jude before she lost losing 56 lbs (Slimming World/PA)
But it was only after she saw a picture of herself with friends taken before a night out that she decided she’d “had enough”.
After worrying that one of her friends might share the photo on social media, Ms Jude joined a Slimming World group in September 2016 with her mother.
Since her 4st weight loss, Ms Jude said her severe asthma has improved, and she can now be more active with one-year-old daughter Vogue.
She added: “My confidence is sky high too, so much so that I’m going to join a local dance class.
“It’s been years since I performed in front of an audience and instead of dreading being on stage, I’m really looking forward to it.”