Pop star Beth thinks big for fashion chic

Ditto, Beth...

As the singer's collection rocks the high street, we tracked down her Barnsley alter-ego and asked her to model Ditto's hot new range.

Amply rounded with heaps of confidence and a strong image, student Rochelle Owen is the living proof that big can be beautiful and uber trendy, just like Beth.

The 20-year-old style-setter works in fashion - it's her job to help customers at Evans' store in Meadowhall embrace their figures and stride out with confidence.

She's delighted that her style heroine has created a collection for her customers.

"Beth's a great role model. She's showing women that they can dress to be noticed and that they should love themselves whatever their size. For girls like me, that's brilliant," says Rochelle.

"Beth's style is very much my look, I dress to be noticed and love girly clothes, bright colours and funky dresses with leggings and loads of accessories.

"I don't hide myself away in black smock dresses and I don't see why anyone should have to if their personality is bubbly and outgoing."

Rochelle did feel a tad nervous for big, brash Beth when she first arrived on the pop scene; "I thought she was brilliant. I watched her video and it gave me the confidence to be even more individual with my dress sense.

"But I worried she was going to come in for criticism. That hasn't happened and I think that's down to her attitude – she doesn't care what anyone thinks and people respect that.

Adds Rochelle: "But I also feel it's also because attitudes are changing. Society is becoming less judgmental about body size. Ten years ago curvy girls were supposed to dress down, but things have changed."

Rochelle is now happy and relaxed with her voluptuous size 20 figure, but it caused her problems in the past.

She started to gain weight from the age of eight and got picked on at school.

"But I overcame it and many of the girls who teased me are now really good friends," she says. "I do have some issues still about my body – but so does every woman, whatever her dress size.

"The most important thing is not to let them hold you back. My size has never stopped me from doing anything," says the girl studying for a degree in holistic therapies in Barnsley.

"I have dieted in the past, but now I simply try to stay healthy. And I am a very happy person. There's always a smile on my face."

The fact that she is so comfortable in her own skin is partly down to Evans, the store she started working for as a 16-year-old tomboy.

"I saw how glamorous all the women I was working with were and I took on board the training we were all given on assessing body shape and selecting the clothes and accessories that work with it," she explains.

"I never looked back. And now I love helping customers to find their new look. It's lovely when a young girl without much confidence comes in to the store and, by changing her clothes, I can improve the way she thinks about herself.

"She sees the reflection in the mirror, her face just shines."

Curves a must with bright new collection

Beth Ditto is funky, fabulous and fast becoming a style icon. And pop's biggest new star is out to prove that fashion goes way beyond a size zero.

She's turning on its lollipop head the notion that only waifs can ever truly be the height of chic.

The chart-topping singer with the amazing voice has now proved her talents at fashion design - and of course, it's for women her size and more.

The size 28 front woman for band Gossip has never shied away from the limelight; she wears her ample curves - and her own brand of in-your-face fashion - with pride.

And now she's showing other women how to do it, big style, with her eclectic and vibrant collection for Evans.

The exclusive Ditto range launched yesterday reflects Beth's inimitable style and flair and is bound to hit all the right notes this summer with girls whose sizes span sizes 14 to 32.

Beth is said to be thrilled with how the collection has turned out - and says she designed it for all big girls out there.

"Designing this line is a dream come true. I wanted to make something special, just for us, something never seen before," she says.

She is now hoping thousands of large, confident and style-conscious women across the nation will embrace it: "I hope the clothes inspire you to think outside the box. After all, boxes are square and in more ways than one we are not," she urges.

Beth has worked closely with plus-sized retailer Evans's Head of Design, Lisa Marie Peacock, to create a collection that is wearable and fun. Her influence is evident throughout, none more so than in a striking two-tone domino print double layer dress and an over sized 'kitty' print tee to team over leggings.

The collection, with prices from 18 to 65 and a shoe range to match, features strong influences from the 80s, with bold graphic designs and lavish detailing spanning glittering embellishment to elegant draping.

Statement pieces include her signature domino print, a flamboyant purple sequin batwing top and beautiful stained-glass printed prom dress.

Rochelle's top tips

- Invest in a good bra and well-fitting underwear – they will do wonders for your figure

- If your legs are your best feature, try leggings under dresses and long tops. They will make your legs look longer and slimmer and make you feel more confident than you would do with bare legs.

- You can never have too many accessories. Jewellery, shoes and belts will give you glamour – and will detract the eye from the areas you would prefer to hide.

- Wear great high heels – they will alter your posture and make you walk taller – which will make you look slimmer.

* Rochelle's look was transformed into Beth's with the expert help of the cosmetics girls at the Prescriptives counter in House of Fraser, Meadowhall.

They studied pictures of Beth and copied her strong, dramatic make-up, focussing on the eyes to give Rochelle a sexy, Catwoman goes vintage look with black liner. Pink lipgloss with an exhaggerated cupid's bow, and a well-covering matt foundation completed the picture.