On Saturday, twenty women stood proudly on stage, each one a finalist in the UK’s Miss Bariatric weight-loss surgery beauty pageant.
The event is more than a competition—it’s a celebration of courage, resilience, and life-changing transformation.
With one in four UK adults now considered obese, these women represent not just beauty, but empowerment and determination in the face of lifelong struggles with weight.
Understanding Bariatric Surgery
While weight-loss injections are becoming more popular, their effects can be temporary, and long-term side effects are still largely unknown.
For those seeking a more lasting solution, bariatric surgery offers several options.
Procedures include the gastric sleeve, where most of the stomach is removed; gastric banding, using an adjustable silicone ring; gastric bypass, which reroutes the stomach to the small intestine; and the gastric balloon, a swallowable device inflated inside the stomach.
Studies show significant weight loss: an average of 14.9% of body weight after a gastric band and 28.4% following a bypass over several years.
All surgery carries risks, including blood clots, nutritional deficiencies, and gallstones.
In the UK, private costs range from £2,000 for a gastric balloon to £15,000 for a bypass, although some women qualify for NHS treatment with long waiting lists.
Stories of Life-Changing Success
Katie Daniel Ditches Her Wheelchair
Katie Daniel, 36, from Sheffield, went from 42st to 14st after battling heart failure and years of immobility.
“Before surgery, I couldn’t go on rides with my family in Florida—I had to use a wheelchair,” she says.
After a gastric sleeve followed by a bypass, Katie has lost 28st, regained mobility, and can now walk independently.
Her heart function has improved from 17% to 50%, giving her a new lease on life.
Harriet Southan Keeps Up with Her Son
Harriet Southan, 35, a makeup artist from Warwickshire, lost 11st after a gastric sleeve.
“I could never keep up with my son Freddie before,” she says.
Now she plays football with him, goes climbing, and even tackled the world’s fastest zipline in Snowdonia.
“Seeing him proud of me makes it all worth it,” she adds.
Christina Ajayi Escapes Life-Threatening Health Issues
For Christina Ajayi, 53, of South London, gastric sleeve surgery was a matter of life or death.
Weighing 23st, she suffered from fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and was at serious risk of a heart attack.
Post-surgery, Christina has dropped to 9st, improved her arthritis, and no longer needs a CPAP machine for sleep apnea. “I didn’t want to die,” she says simply.
Kat Ornsby Gains Confidence and Career Success
Kat Ornsby, 37, from Swindon, lost over 11st after a gastric sleeve.
“I’ve gone from hiding in social situations to arranging holidays for 30 other bariatric surgery patients,” she says.
Kat has also earned two promotions since her transformation, proving how much confidence can reshape a career and personal life.
Sherine Lionel Reclaims Her Body
Sherine Lionel, 32, from Chelmsford, Essex, has lost half her body weight.
“Standing on that pageant stage without feeling ashamed was huge,” she says.
She now enjoys outdoor activities, hikes, and sleeps better, embracing a life full of energy and self-confidence.
Georgie Cook Feels Healthy Again
Georgie Cook, 33, a mother from Kingston-upon-Thames, dropped from 17st 7lb to 9st.
“I used to ask my son to put on my socks for me,” she says.
Now, she keeps up with her five children, and her heart function has improved dramatically after years of struggle.
The Winners Shine
Miss Bariatric UK Jessie Andrews Finds Love and Adventure
Jessie Andrews, 32, from Redditch, went from 17st 1lb to 10st.
Climbing nine mountains this year alone, Jessie says her gastric sleeve surgery gave her confidence and self-love.
“People notice me now, and I’ve even found love with my partner Luke,” she says.
Ms Bariatric UK Pamela Phillips Reclaims Youth and Confidence
Pamela Phillips, 42, from the West Midlands, lost 9st after gastric sleeve surgery.
“I went from the size of a fridge to feeling 21 again,” she says.
Pamela now co-organizes Barifest, the UK’s first weight-loss festival celebrating transformation and confidence.
A Celebration of Empowerment
The pageant is about more than crowns—it’s about reclaiming lives.
As organiser Senna Michelle-Juchau says, the event celebrates women’s empowerment, showing how these transformations go beyond weight loss to confidence, health, and self-belief.
For all the contestants, every stage, every spotlight moment, is a victory in itself.
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