Feeling feminine again

How to Look Good Naked - Shropshire’s Marie Porello knows all about that particular confidence booster.

It may be the title of the latest in a series of makeover shows aimed at giving women a bigger ego by stripping them of any hang-ups about their body, but Marie has already had her own makeover.

The pretty blonde from Muxton in Telford trimmed down by more than five stone and now feels so great about her own body she has launched a lingerie company selling sexy smalls.

“I was creeping towards a size 20 after I had my little boy,” said Marie.

“But I did something about it and felt so good that I wanted to make other women feel good about showing off their body and having fun.

“I had also wanted to do something for myself and run my own business. I decided on lingerie because I just felt so good about myself after I lost the weight. It was a wonderful feeling. You feel like a woman again and a sexy one.”

Trinny and Susannah started it all as they lined their “victims” up in front of a full-length mirror to discuss their wobbly bits and now they are planning a new small-screen adventure called Undressing the Nation.

Marie can remember a time when she would dread standing in front of a mirror. Her weight problem had escalated after having her little boy and the final push came when her size 18 clothes were becoming too tight and she realised she would soon be in a size 20.

“Before I became pregnant with my son, my weight started to creep on, and when I fell pregnant I was about one-and-a-half stone overweight and then through pregnancy alone, put on a further four stone.

“I knew I needed to get healthy. I was concerned about my heart, joints, and wanted to be able to live to see my son grow up. I would be really breathless when I walked upstairs.

“Primarily though, I did it for me. I was the one who wanted to change and get healthier.

“I think women do worry about their health, but I do feel from speaking with women that both health and looking good go hand in hand. We want that feeling of being attractive. It’s very important.

“While a lot of women are told to go on diets by their doctors for their health in the first instance, feeling good about yourself does take over towards the end.”

Now Marie runs Simply Sensual from her home and also organises parties for other people in their own homes, selling some of the most popular makes of underwear from erotic lingerie to bridal delights and comfortable knickers.

“It’s great fun and it’s good to see women indulge themselves and want to feel feminine. It has so much to do with confidence.”

Marie is no Trinny or Susannah but she does help women to choose underwear that is right for them, suits them and makes them feel fantastic.