A Wandsworth woman fighting to protect victims of domestic abuse has made it to the finals of a plus size beauty pageant.

Laura Gentles, 29, is a finalist in Miss Voluptuous UK, and campaigns for domestic abuse charities Refuge and Women’s Aid.

A sister of Miss Voluptuous DIVA is the US, the pageant is in its first year and rates contestants on looks, walk, eye contact and the social issue the ladies are addressing.

Laura said she was a victim of domestic abuse during a two year relationship from the age of 18.

She said: “It was when I was quite young and it was harrowing. It was my first serious relationship.

“I didn’t know it wasn’t normal.

“A lot of people don’t understand why you don’t just back away. They ask ‘why don’t you leave?’

“People don’t know what it’s like to be with someone who’s emotionally and physically abusive and controlling. It leaves scars.”

Two women a week die at the hands of a partner or ex-partner in the UK while 26 per cent of women experience domestic violence from the age of 16.

An estimated 4.3 million females and 2.2 million males aged 16 to 59 have been a victim of domestic abuse in England and Wales.

On why more is not being done, Laura said: “It’s because of cuts. They don’t have the money or the resources.”

Since 2010, councils across London cut support for services helping women suffering abuse by an average of 38 per cent.

In the year to June 2017, there were nearly 150,000 incidents of domestic abuse in the capital, and 4270 incidents in Wandsworth alone.

The number of domestic abuse victims in London rose from 62,546 in 2014 to 71,926 in 2016, equating to a 15 per cent increase.

Working in domestic abuse refuges, Laura said: “These women come in with just the clothes on their backs.

“When they come in we make up hang bags for them with the basic necessities.

“We write a message and make it personal to each person.

“It’s nice that someone’s taking the time out to give them something.”

Wandsworth Times:

A note to welcome a victim of domestic abuse to a refuge 

A member of Q4, a united front of national pageant contestants dedicated to changing lives, Laura recognises a lot of women can have insecurities.

She said: “Get out there and do things. It’s about how you feel about yourself, how you view yourself.

“In the media we’re told you have to be a size eight to be attractive, but there’s starting to be a lot of pushback on that.”

Laura, who has taken part in quite a few pageants said: “I’ve got the bug.

“It brings me so much confidence.

“You make a lot of friendships with different girls.

“It’s like a sisterhood and not the bitchy event people see in the media.”

The finals are taking place in Cambridge on Saturday, September 2.

Check out Refuge’s website or Women’s Aid to donate or help or seek help yourself.