Old Street actress to wow judges at plus-size pageant

An Islington woman committed to proving that “you don’t have to be a size zero to be beautiful” is preparing to wow judges when she takes part in a “plus-size pageant” next month.

Sophie O’Reilly, an actress, model and blogger from City Road, will be a contestant in the Miss British Beauty Curve contest on July 27.

A red, white and blue union flag dress will be her outfit at the Lost Theatre on Wandsworth Road, south-west London, where she hopes “to represent all the size 26 girls out there”.

The competition will be Miss O’Reilly’s second beauty pageant. In 2010, the 25-year-old made the semi-final of Miss Big Beautiful Woman.