A BODY positive spokeswoman is swapping business for beauty as she takes to the world stage for a pageant.

Natalie Moloney, 29, will represent the UK in the Elite Global Earth pageant after winning the Mrs United Kingdom title in January.

The pageant, taking place on board a cruise ship from Jacksonville, Florida, to the Bahamas, celebrates women actively making a difference in their communities.

On August 16, Natalie will leave for the world of pageantry - a world which the mum-of-two feels a true sense of belonging.

She said: “Pageants provide a real sense of camaraderie and it’s so cheesy, but it’s a sisterhood.

“There’s a common misconception about them being all about glamour but a pageant is about how the women can serve the title, not how the title can serve them.

“There are some incredible women taking part in Elite Global Earth. My only goal is to make sure I do my best and do the UK proud.

“Whether or not I win a crown, it’s still being the most amazing experience and I can’t put a price on representing my country.”

The mum-of-two first began entering pageants in 2015.

She was a size 16 at the time after having her children. Her confidence had dipped but yet she excelled as a second place runner-up.

“I’d lost a lot of who I was because once you become a parent, your whole identity changes,” she said.

But the self-confessed small town girl from Colchester, who grew up in Clacton, rediscovered who she was.

Gazette:

Glam - Natalie all dressed up. PICTURE: Paul Carroll at Monsignor

She said: “It proved to me who I am on the inside is so much more important than what’s on the out - side.

“Lots of people think Clacton is a dead end but I’m trying to prove people wrong.

“There’s more to life than being held to stereotypes. Nobody can limit you apart from yourself.”

So passionate about the benefits of pageants, event stylist and businesswoman Natalie founded the Q4 Collective for beauty queens dedicated to helping UK charity Women in Need.

Their humanitarian work has aided women who are homeless, suffering in impoverished parts of the world and those living in refuges escaping domestic violence.

A bra campaign launched last December saw 1,500 pairs donated to Q4, the proceeds of which are funding scholarships to send women to school.

However, another of Natalie’s hustles is co-ordinating Miss Voluptuous UK, a plus-size pageant which she brought to the UK from America.

She said: “The final is in Cambridge in just a few weeks time. It’s the first year so I’m very nervous, but so excited.

“I’m very body positive. There’s also a misconception this is just for plus-size but slimmer women feel the brunt of it too with people attacking them for being ‘skinny’.

“It’s more about accepting yourself at whatever size and feeling comfortable in your skin.

“Setting this up has been a learning curve but I’m really looking forward to seeing how it develops.”