'Heartbreak ruined my confidence'
Louise on holiday in Egypt with husband Paul in 2005
Louise Evans, 43, is an events coordinator and lives with her son, Dowlais, 11, in Kent.
"In September 2005, my world was turned upside down. One minute,I was a busy mum to Dowlais, then six, and happily married to my husband Paul. The next, I was a heartbroken widow.
Without warning, Paul collapsed at home. I called 999 and followed their instructions on how to give CPR - but he was pronounced dead from heart disease on arrival at the hospital.
He was only 43, and the love of my life. Telling Dowlais his daddy was never coming home was terrible. I felt so lost and empty, and my weight started to plummet. Within eight months, I'd dropped from a healthy 10st to a painfully thin 7st 7lb. My shoulder blades stuck out, and family and friends kept telling me to put on weight. It was only when I tried on some size-6 jeans and they were too big that it finally sunk in.


Then I saw an advert for pole-dancing fitness classes that claimed to build confidence and tone you up. I'd never exercised before and I was scared, but after going once a week for six months, I had a six-pack! The classes built up my self-esteem again and I made some great friends who helped me realise I shouldn't spend the rest of my life wallowing in grief. I had to focus on the fact that I still had a wonderful son and I deserved to be happy, too. I haven't looked back since.
Now I weigh 10st 2lb and my bones don't jut out any more. I still miss Paul every day. But at least I'm physically the person I was before he died and that has helped a lot."
My favourite body flaw: "My arms - they have a slight wobble, but dancing is keeping the bingo wings at bay."

'It took me 46 years to love my body'
A size-16 Pauline at a friend's wedding in 1997
Pauline O'Neill, 46, lives in Glasgow with her husband John, 40, and two sons Sean, 20, and David, 11. She opened her own café franchise last summer.
"Finally - in my mid-40s - I feel comfortable in my skin. That's not to say I wouldn't love to be taller or have a trimmer tummy, but I can accept I'm never going to be Elle Macpherson. And I'm happy with that.
I didn't always feel like that though. I always felt a bit on the plump side so as I tried every diet going to achieve the 'perfect' body. At my lightest, my 5ft 6in frame was 8st 11lb and a size 8-10, and at my heaviest 12st 10lb and a size 18.
John and I have been married for 16 years and he tells me I'm beautiful no matter what, but I'd still beat myself up about my flabby arms and tummy. At one point I felt so low I even considered liposuction, but going under the knife terrified me.
For years I struggled to achieve my ideal size. Then when I turned 43, I weighed 12st 7lb, was a size 16-18 and didn't want to get to 50 and still be fat. I joined Weight Watchers and unlike other diets, it was more a case of eating healthily and swapping the sweets for salads. Within seven months, I had reached my goal of 9st 10lb and a size 10-12.
I thought I looked amazing, but friends started to say I was too skinny. Then I saw a picture of myself and realised my face looked drawn. They were right; I'd gone too far. I decided to allow myself the odd treat, and within a year I'd put on nearly 1st, getting to 10st 7lb.
Yes, I'm terrified to be modelling lingerie at 46, but I know the boys and John are really proud of me. I am too."
My favourite body flaw: "My legs. If I could stretch them two more inches I would, but my killer heels do that!"


'I'm doing it for mums after having four kids'

Michelle's kids (left to right): Abbie, Holly, Stephen and Alex
Part-time singer Michelle Barrett, 31, is mum to Abbie, 11, Alex, eight, Stephen, five, and Holly, 23 months. She lives in Dublin with husband Stephen, 35.
"I think I reflect what a real mum looks like. Celebs like Gisele Bündchen and Miranda Kerr leave hospital looking glamorous just hours after having their baby - but that's not what happens. In fact, I feel sad for them that they feel the pressure to ping back into shape.
After mine, I threw on my tracksuit and made the most of the time I had with my new baby. Baby first, body second.
Having four children means my shape has changed. I'm 5ft 4in and I used to be a size 10, weigh around 8st 10lb and have a 32B chest. Now I'm a size 10-12, 9st 4lb, and a 32D.
I also have a bit of a wobbly tum and my boobs have lost their perkiness, but I'm OK with it. I wouldn't be normal if I didn't have the odd day when I look in the mirror and say: 'Urgh'. But most days I think: 'You're not bad for a mum of four!'
My kids are my world, but I still love a bit of 'me-time'. That's why I entered the competition. I didn't really think about the fact I'd be posing in my pants - it was more a day of pampering. Who'd pass up on the chance to do that?
My daughter Abbie said she's proud and embarrassed in equal measure; my husband thinks it's brilliant and is going to show everyone! Being photographed with so much of my body on display is daunting, as I'm far from perfect. But I'm doing it for all other self-conscious mums out there. I nearly bailed on this shoot, but I realised I'd kick myself forever if I didn't do it.
I want fellow mums to realise no matter which part of their body wobbles, they should be proud of what it's been through, and the miracle, or miracles, it's produced."
My favourite body flaw: "My tummy. There's a slight jiggle to it, but bearing in mind what it's been through over the last 11 years, it's in pretty good shape!"


'Bullies made me hate my boobs'
Yvonne at Miss Ghana UK in 2010
Yvonne Akwetey, 24, is an administrator and lives in south-west London.
"I was a very early developer and by the time I turned 11, I was already wearing a 34B bra. Bullies at school would call me fat and my self-esteem plummeted.
My mum, Comfort, was my rock. She told me the bullies were just jealous and gave me the strength to cope.
Finally, by the age of 17, I began to get curvy hips. I didn't look so out of proportion, and my confidence improved so much, I even started thinking about modelling. But in April 2005, when I was 18, my mum died unexpectedly of deep vein thrombosis. She was 46, and it felt like my safety net had been taken away.
Now I had no one to buoy me up when I felt down. My mum was from Ghana and I often went to Ghanaian events in London, which is where I heard about the Miss Ghana UK pageant.
I wasn't going to enter, but then I heard Mum's voice in my head, spurring me on, so I went for it.
When I found out I was the 2nd runner-up, I was overjoyed. It gave me the boost I needed to try more contests. Two months later, I was runner-up in the Face of Fashion 4 Africa competition.
The contests made me feel so much better about myself. That's why I decided to see if I could be one of Ultimo's Real Women.
Even though I'll be nervous about these pictures, it's a symbol of how far I've come since those bullies trampled my self-esteem.
These days I'm proud of my curves - I'm a size 12 and bra size 36F. Mum's death made me realise we're only here for a short time, so you should act on every opportunity."
My favourite body flaw: "My tummy. It's soft and a little squidgy, but I prefer it that way."

Please follow Yvonne on Twitter here
'I've embraced my curves!'
Charlotte (top right) with sister Melissa, dad Carl and mum Debbie
Charlotte Byers, 22, is an HR administrator and lives in Hartlepool with her parents.
"There's so much pressure on girls to be a size zero these days, and I don't know why - being skeletal isn't attractive.
I'm 5ft 8in, 12st 7lb, and a size 12-14. Yes I'm curvy and I'm proud of my curves, but the last few years have shown me that being healthy and happy is what really matters.
Back in November 2009, my 72-year-old grandad Stan passed away from prostate cancer. We were so close, and his death hit our family hard.
Then, in May 2010, six months after Grandad died, my dad Carl, 52, was in a serious car accident. He needed spinal surgery, and I had to help my mum Debbie, 48, with keeping the house - cleaning, tidying and cooking meals - because Dad wasn't able to.
At the time, I was in the final year of my degree in human resource management at Northumbria University, so I had to juggle studying with caring.It was a worrying, stressful time, but I managed to keep my head down and graduated last summer with a 2:1.
Dad's slowly recovering too, so things are looking up. I couldn't have gained such a good degree without the support of my family and my boyfriend, Matthew, 23. Looking back, the last few years have definitely made me stronger.
My mum and my sister, Melissa, 25, are always complimenting my figure, and Matthew says I have curves in all the right places. I'd only ever consider losing weight if it made me feel healthier, but because I do lots of horse riding and walking anyway, I don't need to.
I feel fine about posing in my underwear and am more self-conscious about my pale legs than anything else!"
My favourite body flaw: "My bum. It's nice to have a curvy behind."
Ultimo's Michelle Mone and the winners
Ultimo lingerie is available from Debenhams and Ultimo.co.uk.

PHOTOGRAPHY: DAN KENNEDY STYLIST: LINDSAY CAMPBELL HAIR AND MAKE-UP: BENEFIT AND MALIN COLEMAN