Learning to love yourself can be the hardest...but there's help

Having already spoken out about her work offering sartorial advice to the transgender community Bea has gone onto produce a self-help book based on her own experiences and is putting on a number of workshops designed to help women aged 40 and above reclaim "their inner glow" and make the most of their looks and figures.

It is something that took Bea, 52, along time to do herself.

Growing up in Brightlingsea she says she always felt an outsider, not helped by the fact she was 6ft tall at the age of 14 and her mum made all of her clothes.

"I was bullied every day at school, we moved around a lot and I think that didn't help either as wherever we went everyone had already made friends and it was hard to fit in.

"I was very self conscious about being so tall, I felt bad if I was sitting in front of someone at the theatre or cinema and it made me feel very much an outsider."

"I remember at primary school a group of children shouting 'go home, go home' and as I got older the bullying got more sophisticated and more violent.

"That's horrific when you are a child because everything seems worse.

"I suppose it seems silly now when you look back, but that feeling continues into adulthoo.

"You get into relationships where you are not made to feel worthy and that feeling just continues," says Bea.

Ten years ago Bea suffered a nervous breakdown having struggled with the low self-esteem and mental health problems brought on by being bullied.

But while recovering she went back to school to studyt a 12 week course in Preapring to Tedach in a Learning Environment (PTLE) at Colchester Institute, which led to studying for a Business management degree and a diploma in Coaching with the Coaching Academy.

Despite suffering a relapse in her mental health during her studies, Bea continued to work hard and now plans to carry on with her studies to become a life coach.

And knowing what it feels like to cope with a lack of confidence has also led to the creation of her book called What Do I Do with This ? A styling Guide for those of us with Lumps, Bumps and Saggy Bits.

"I basically was skinny my whole life, even after my daughter was born.

"Because I quite young my body just snapped back into shape and I always new exactly the size I was and what would fit me, without fail, in any shop I went into.

"But then, and it really did feel like it happened over night, I hit my 40s and I just suddenly developed lumps and bumps and jowels and three stomachs and it was just really hard to do anything about it.

"I wanted to be able to help other people be able to dress for the shape they had, like I then had to do reaching this new stage in my life," she says.

She had already been doing this with the transgender community, a role which began after a chance meeting at a party.

"I got chatting to someone and they were talking about dressing services and it went from there," says Bea, who now lives in Colchester.

She launched her own business, Queen Bea Make-Overs, and learnt how to help transgender women look as good as natal women.

"I love it and won't ever give that up."

She adds “I feel being bullied has given me insight into feeling bad about how you look.

"It’s not about being the prettiest or having a great figure, it’s about you being able to see the beautiful person who you are.

"It’s about looking in the mirror and accepting yourself and liking yourself.

"In my new book and workshops, I help women to see themselves through my eyes.”

Bea’s book helps women identify what body and face shape they are and helps them to make the most of themselves.

“It’s got everything in the book, so you can do it for yourself.

"My book will teach the reader the basics and it will help them to find the confidence to be able to style themselves.

"The workshops go a step further and I guide people through the process.”

Bea is running three taster workshops on Saturday July 21, 28 and Saturday August 4 at Wivenhoe House Hotel, Colchester, from 9.30am to 12pm.

She is also offering a complimentary space for two people at Colchester Women’s Refuge to attend on each session.

If you qualify contact Bea direct on 07871 163 438 or via her website: https://www.lookinggreat.today/contact-us/