Ultimo, the UK’s leading designer lingerie brand, have joined the war on size zero by opting to use “real women” for its new campaign, which is unveiling this week throughout the press, www.ultimo.co.uk and Debenhams stores nationwide.
Shot in a series of elegant poses and sporting the brand new summer collection, the gorgeous winners range in sizes from 8-18 and ages 22-46 years and include a nursery practitioner, a Miss Ghana runner up, a singer and mum-of-four, an events coordinator, a fashion buyer and a student. The women are from all corners of the UK, including Cardiff, Glasgow, Dublin, London and Liverpool.
Michelle Mone OBE (39), creator of Ultimo and the brains behind the campaign, said:
“I think a lot of women are just a bit fed up with seeing models with unrealistic body images that they can never achieve themselves. This campaign was about bringing together a group of normal girls who are happy with their bodies and proud to show them off. The girls did a phenomenal job and the results speak for themselves.”
The eleven lucky ladies were taken to London for a big budget celebrity-style fashion shoot with the Ultimo ‘glam team’, including celebrity photographer Dan Kennedy, hair and make-up artists, stylist and lighting experts – the same team who worked with Ultimo babes Sarah Harding and Mel B! The winners also bagged six months worth of Ultimo lingerie.
Michelle Mone added;
“Over the years Ultimo has become synonymous with celebrity campaigns, but our lingerie is designed specifically for real women, so running this campaign was the right thing for us to do and I really hope that other big brands follow suit.”
Yvonne Akwetey, Vikkie Bamber, Michelle Barrett, Charlie Byers, Jodi Cahill, Clare Cousins, Louise Evans, Angie Mugadza, Pauline O’Neill, Bethan Riley and Kristy Rogers, were the lucky finalists chosen to front the brand. Their images will be used online at ultimo.co.uk and in Debenhams stores nationwide.
Singer and Mum-of-four Michelle (31) said:
“Being involved in the campaign has been amazing. I represent every mother that has only dreamed about something like this happening. It’s great to see such an established brand like Ultimo flying the flag for real women. It’s so important that young women see what real women look like and are educated to be proud and confident in their own skin.”Ultimo ran a similar campaign last year for the Ultimo Couture womenswear collection, but this is the first time real women have been used to model Ultimo lingerie, which is available from Debenhams stores in sizes up to a G cup.
The new Ultimo summer collection is available now from Debenhams stores nationwide and online at www.ultimo.co.uk priced from £12.50.
