AFTER 10 years of being in the public eye there are three guaranteed things people say to me when they meet me on the street or out at the weekend without fail.

1. Hey, I voted for you by the way! (I always genuinely thank people for that one).

2. What's that Simon Cowell really like?

3. You're nowhere near as big in real life as you look on that STV!

It turns out that some people are often genuinely shocked when they see me in the flesh or discover that I mainly wear a size 18 clothes and that I'm 5ft 2 inches tall.

I can only assume they originally had an image in their heads of me being airlifted in and out of places on a daily basis with a permanent double cheese burger stuck in my hand.

That said however, I am very much aware of the fact that I am still extremely overweight and that for possible future health reasons I should really be focused on getting fit and healthy pronto as I never want anyone to think I condone obesity in any way whatsoever.

THAT'S why I'm really struggling with the Miss Plus Size International Competition which is due to take place this Saturday in London.

I don't agree with beauty pageants and the objectification of women in general, but this is one pageaent that I, as a bigger woman, feel qualified to comment on.

The criteria for entering the beauty pageant is that all contestants should be at least 18-years-old and a size 18 or above.

The winner will be representing plus size women all around the world and the organisers want the winner to maintain their size 18 or above throughout the year that they hold the title.

Now don't get me wrong, I am very much in favour of promoting a healthy attitude towards body image especially when it comes to the pressures women and young girls face on a daily basis to look a certain way thanks to some parts of the media.

But that doesn't mean living at a weight which poses a potential danger to your overall health should be celebrated either.

I am someone who was 23st at one point in my life and dropped to 12st only to put five stone back on and start the weight loss battle all over again.

SO I completely understand what it's like to be that big bubbly girl who seems like she doesn't have a care in the world and who often quotes the "big is beautiful" party line to all those who'll listen.

But actually if truth be told I would really just love to lose weight.

I applaud all the finalists for having the courage and the confidence to enter this plus size beauty pageant and have no doubt you will all look beautiful on the night but can you really take a step back and say honestly hand on heart that this truly is a positive event promoting happiness and well being especially when current statistics in Scotland show that one in seven, five-year-olds are considered obese?

I don't believe an event like this is a good thing because no matter how you dress it up and market it, the message that Saturday night's annual competition ultimately sends, in my opinion, is that it's OK to be seriously overweight and in fact it is to be celebrated.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, that's for sure, but there's no arguing obesity kills and it's an epidemic we need to address not accept.