Christina lost FOUR stone and found her confidence...
...NOW SHE IS BIDDING TO BE CROWNED MISS MANCHESTER
CHRISTINA Cooper has lost fourand-a-half stone in weight – and gained the confidence to become a beauty queen.
The 25-year-old from West Gorton started her fitness campaign two years ago after tipping the scales at 14st 7lbs and a size 16.
Inspired to take part in charity run Pretty Muddy, Christina threw herself into exercise and cut down on her calories – but never deprived herself of treats – using fitness app My Fitness Pal to help her along the way.
Now she has dropped almost four-and-a-half stone to become a trim 10 stone 1lb and slips into a size eight clothes.
It gave her the confidence to compete in the Miss Manchester pageant last year – and she’s qualified again for this year’s event in a bid to go one better and win the 2018 title.
But while losing weight has helped Christina gain confidence, she is keen to inspire others to feel comfortable in their own skin – whatever their size.
Christina says: “Losing weight has changed the way I feel about things, I feel better about myself in person, it’s being healthier really that has been the big change.
“My goal was never to be skinny, it was just to be healthy.”
The Miss Manchester competition is open to girls aged 16-26 of any size – but Christina says losing weight was what gave her the confidence boost to go up on stage.
“I’m quite a reserved person so it was a big confidence boost.
“If I was to become Miss Manchester this year, I hope that I can inspire people of all genders and ages that if you put your mind to something, you can do it! It would be great to be able to inspire people and to show that being healthy and comfortable in your own skin is what is important. I am not the typical person people assume would be in a pageant.
“Many people have negative views of pageants, but I would like to turn this around. Being part of the pageant last year has helped me to realise what it is really about – it is about who is willing to dedicate themselves to the charities over the year and to do their best to raise money whilst representing Manchester well. It isn’t objectifying women.”
Christina says the turning point for her shape-up was when she saw photos of herself as a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding.
She said: “I have always been a bit of a weight yo-yoer, but I had never found the full motivation to stick at a diet or exercise. I had joined a gym but joining for a few weeks and the excitement of going then wearing off was the usual.
“It was once I decided to do The Pretty Muddy 5k for Cancer Research I found something to really push me to stick at it – it was for a great cause and for something that I have sadly had close ones suffering from, so I really wanted to give it my all and began attending lots of classes at the gym.”
Christina has just finished a masters degree in marketing and creative advertising at Manchester Metropolitan University, and currently works part-time at the Lady Bountiful clothes shop in Chorlton – which caters for women sized 18 and above – and she helps to advise customers on dressing for their shape.
She says: “I’m all about helping people to feel comfortable in their own skin. I wouldn’t dream of telling anyone to lose weight, for me it was a lifestyle change.” Miss Manchester 2018 is still open for applications, which can be made at missmanchester. net.
The grand final will take place on Friday, May 4, at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate.
Many people have negative views of pageants, I would like to turn this around Christina Cooper