A heartbroken mum who DOUBLED her body weight after her husband cheated on her with her best friend has had the last laugh – after launching a lingerie business for BIG WOMEN.
Anita Beaver, 34, went from a slender nine stone to a bulky 18 stone after she started gorging on takeaways washed down with bottles of wine after the breakdown of her marriage.
In 2005 she was a slim size eight but by 2013 she was a size 22 and struggled to find clothes to fit her.
But after breaking down in her local Marks and Spencer store when she was told they could not find clothes to fit her enormous 44GG chest she decided to branch out on her own.
At Christmas she launched her own brand of plus sized lingerie for women who went up to a size 30 dress size and size 50 bras.
Anita, who is now married to Matt, 30, who also runs the business, said: “I was at a very low ebb when I piled on the weight.
“I have always been quite slim and was a size eight for years. I had a flat stomach and never put a pound on really.
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“I’d been married for 18 months and my husband had an affair with my friend in 2005.
“It devastated me and he left me to be with her. I started drinking wine and eating badly.
“I didn’t really care what I looked like.
“A few months later my dad died of a heart attack and I was quite depressed. Within 12 months I’d lost my husband, my friend and my father and it took its toll on me.”
Anita, who lives near Much Wenlock, Shropshire, married Matt in 2010 and two years later the couple had their first baby, daughter Hannah.
The couple, who are now expecting the birth of their son in July, now supply customers across Britain and Europe.
Anita added: “The business has gone from strength to strength. The fact is that high street shops do provide the sizes of clothes but the bigger they are the uglier they get.
“Some of the bras you can get look more like hammocks. I wanted to provide something which fitted bigger woman but was sexy at the same time.
“The fact is we, as a nation, are getting bigger but our urges haven’t changed. People still want to feel sexy and wear sexy underwear.
“Matt is always so supportive, it’s quite a big thing at first to get dressed up in this lacy underwear especially when you are used to hiding your figure.
“Our relationship has really grown through it, it’s very sexy when your husband helps lace up your corset.
“Since getting together with Matt and embracing life I haven’t really been that bothered about my size just happy with my life and enjoying myself.
“I feel more like the person I always knew I was and since going from a size eight to a size 22 I am proof that it’s true ‘it’s what’s on the inside that counts’.
“I am lucky to have my husband, my daughter, my health, another baby on the way, my mum and my friends.
“Life’s too short for worrying about diets, we have enough to worry about without adding self-pressure.
“It would be nice to be a size 12/14 again sometime but I’m not going to worry about it if it doesn’t happen, I will embrace who I am and live for the moment and be happy doing it.”
Orders can be placed by visiting lovewand.co.uk
Congratulations Anita on surviving and thriving after all your lows. It’s inspirational to hear your story and to see you doing so well in something that you love. Well done!