Mansfield mum uses plus size beauty contest to raise awareness of women's body issues and autism

Madara Riley, 34, who is originally from Latvia, is representing the UK in the Ms Top of the World, 2020 contest in the ‘Mrs’ Plus Size category. The voting contest is held online between December 9-12.

The busy mum is a full time carer to a severely autistic daughter Camellia Kate, aged 12, also has a son Riley, 7, and is married to Matthew.

Madara came to live in Mansfield 17 years ago and says the pageant offers a “great opportunity” to raise awareness of autism and to to inspire mums, and others, who “only love themselves when they are thinner.”

Madara said: “I’m a special needs mum, and I’m plus size. By entering, I wanted to inspire other mums, and other women to love themselves now, not when they lose weight, or grow longer hair, but also to raise awareness about the struggles of autism.

“People automatically assume that if you are large that you eat too much or are lazy. I’m extremely active, being a mum, and caring for a child with severe autism is incredibly hard work.

"We are lucky to have amazing support, but we have days when we feel we have no power to continue after sleepless nights and taking punches and bites from Camellia. I say to parents feeling low, there’s no shame to ask for help.”

Madara regularly hosts a live stream on Facebook for a Latvian community organisation TAUTA and often interviews celebrities.

"There is not much awareness in Latvia about autism, when I took my daughter there people stared but here people know about it. I’ve had Mansfield people tap me on the shoulder when Camellia’s been challenging say ‘you are doing a great job, mum. So uplifting.

“I’m very active, I’ve run the Mansfield marathon, go to gyms, yoga, after a full day I could climb a mountain, even do the splits! But coping with my daughter, I sometimes go without food, or sleep, I’ve eaten sweets or cake to cope, but I’m definitely not lazy.

"With a lot of plus size people, you often find some trauma in the background. I’ve never felt beautiful, but when a friend died, a light came on, life is short, you have to love yourself for who you are.

"I have rolls of fat – sausage rolls! – a scarred belly after caesareans, but it shows I carried life, I’m real. I say to women, get out of the doldrums, slap on that lippy, and slay your queen!

“I want to tell ladies how smart they are, there is something beautiful in each women, like flowers in the garden differently beautiful. Please stop hating yourselves and stop giving media standards power.

“Stretch marks? You’re a tigress who earned her stripes! You can work towards a different you, don’t wait to start loving yourselves, love yourselves now!”

She added: “I like to thank Ms Top of the World organiser Kristine Lindenblate and my mentor national casting director Katy Lazdovska for the opportunity and trust.

"It would be wonderful to bring the crown back to the UK and Mansfield!”