After suffering years of bullying, a trainee police officer won a competition to become a professional lingerie model.

Northolt curve queen Sophia Adams has been crowned the winner of lingerie firm Curvy Kate’s worldwide model search, Star in a Bra.

Selected by an online vote, Ms Adams beat more than 1,000 other shapely beauties to the top spot after being voted the public’s favourite.

The 21-year-old was severely bullied at school after reaching puberty aged just nine, with fellow schoolchildren calling her names such as ‘man-beast’.

She said: “A lot of people bullied me, a hell of a lot. This was before I’d heard of hair straighteners, I didn’t wear makeup and really, I just hadn’t grown into my body properly.

“I’d love to hear what they’d have to say if they saw me now, I think it’s a bit of the ugly duckling syndrome.”

But Ms Adams, who wears a 16 JJ cup and volunteers as a tester for the brand, decided not to let others define her, and entered Harrow-based  Curvy Kate’s Star in a Bra competition with women from all over the world.

She added: “I found out about the competition through the testing. I didn’t think much of it at first, as I thought you’d have to be slim and a certain size, and there are some bras that don’t even go up to my cup size.

“But then I started to realise that it shouldn’t hinder my chances - there are so many women out there bigger than a size 14 and I want to show that you can look good at any size.

“I’m a size 16, I look after myself and I’m happy the way I am, and I want to show women that’s OK.”

Sophia will now join the brand’s curvy line up at their summer shoot, enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to the Mediterranean for two with £1,000 spending money, be awarded a year-long modelling contract with Bridge Models Limited and will also be given a year’s free lingerie from Curvy Kate.

She added: “It is still sinking in. I honestly thought it was going to be one of the other girls, so I was so shocked when they announced I had won, it was wicked.

“I’m so excited for my first shoot, which is the practice shoot for a magazine. Obviously my dad is a bit funny about it, but all dads would be. My mum is really pleased.”

Miss Adams will now jet off to Portugal with her mum in 12 days' time as part of her prize.