Jen Atkin’s life took an unforeseen turn just as she believed her future was on solid ground. Her fiancé ended the relationship, attributing it to her perceived weight gain. However, destiny had a comical script of its own.
Fast-forward to today, Jen has been crowned Miss Britain, transforming her past heartbreak into a remarkable victory. Life has a knack for delivering unexpected plot twists, and we’re excited to convey her inspiring message to our cherished readers.
Before ascending to fame, Jen faced a multitude of challenges.
Six years ago, Jen Atkin was immersed in envisioning her perfect wedding, painting her dreams with vibrant colors, only to have the canvas abruptly yanked away. Her fiancé chose to end the relationship, and the reason was rather astonishing: Jen was allegedly indulging in excessive junk food.
During her childhood, Jen confronted a multitude of challenges. Hurtful words and taunts accompanied her journey to the playground, as people bestowed the cruel nickname “Jen fat-kin” upon her, their derogatory remarks echoing in her ears and causing her heartache. To compound the cruelty, they went so far as to throw food at her, leaving her deeply wounded. This period was undeniably tough for Jen, and the lasting scars of those experiences stayed with her.
She grappled with an intricate relationship with food.
Recognizing her struggle, Atkin courageously confessed to her own denial regarding her body and the intricate relationship she had with food. She opened up about how, despite her mother’s lovingly prepared homemade meals, she secretly indulged in fast food, chips, and sweets. Describing her body as an insatiable pit, she spoke of uncontrollable eating without any breaks, a habit that intensified during her teenage years.
To complicate matters further, when she turned 18 and obtained her driver’s license, the accessibility to fast food became dangerously convenient. Alongside her boyfriend, they would frequent bars and indulge in takeout while binge-watching their favorite shows, unknowingly feeding into an unhealthy cycle.
Atkin held a distinctive perspective on her weight and body image, firmly convinced that her boyfriend loved her unconditionally.
Nevertheless, the bubble of bliss burst abruptly when her partner chose to terminate their relationship right in the midst of wedding planning. It was a jarring awakening for Atkin, as she confronted the harsh reality that her belief in their unwavering love was shattered. The unexpected breakup compelled her to reevaluate her perception of herself and confront the painful truth head-on.
The breakup took its toll on Atkin, who found comfort in food and secluded herself at home. It was a pivotal moment when she realized she couldn’t fit into her size 20 dress, prompting her to weigh herself and discover the shocking extent of her weight gain. This realization sparked a determination within her to make a change and embark on a self-care journey.
In response, she resolved to sculpt a revenge body.
Upon enrolling at a local gym, Atkin embarked on an incredible transformation. In just two years, she went from a size 22 to a size 10. Empowered by her progress, she delved into beauty pageants and achieved remarkable success, ranging from being crowned Miss Scunthorpe to finishing as the first runner-up in Miss England 2018. Taking a brief hiatus, she received a recommendation for the 75th Miss Great Britain competition, offering her one last opportunity at pageant glory.
Atkin’s journey culminated in her being crowned Miss Great Britain during a breathtaking final ceremony held in Leicester. The announcement left her stunned, and she exclaimed, “I’m still in shock at winning. I’m so happy I can’t even put it into words — I honestly can’t believe it.”
Atkin feels that her ex would likely take pride in her achievements, yet she has no desire to rekindle their past relationship. Having found the love of her life, she tied the knot with Chris just five months before clinching the title of Miss Great Britain. Undoubtedly, her joy and marital happiness probably contributed to her winning charisma in the competition.
Not every journey to becoming a beauty queen unfolds seamlessly. Here’s another remarkable case of a woman who encountered challenges related to her appearance before ultimately earning the title of Miss England.
I Helped Plan My SIL’s Wedding, Baked the Cake, Paid for the Catering – Then Found Out on the Wedding Day I Wasn’t Invited
Dahlia pours her heart into planning her brother’s wedding. From designing the invitation to booking vendors to even baking the perfect cake. But on the big day, she discovers a brutal betrayal: she’s not invited. As secrets unravel and loyalties are tested, Dahlia must decide if some betrayals deserve forgiveness… or just a slice of revenge.
I’ve never been the kind of person to hold a grudge.
But I can say, without hesitation, that I will never forgive Claire for what she did to me.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
When my brother, Liam, got engaged, I was happy for him. Sure, Claire wasn’t my favorite person in the world. She had an edge to her, a way of making every conversation feel like a subtle competition.
But she seemed to love my brother.
And Liam? He was smitten.
A man holding a ring box | Source: Midjourney
So, when Claire begged me to help plan the wedding, I agreed. Not for her. But for Liam.
I helped design the invitations. I booked vendors. I coordinated the venue. And I even paid for catering and the wedding cake.
I spent weeks pouring my heart into their wedding. And I had no idea what Claire was planning behind my back.
A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
I tapped my pen against the edge of my desk, staring down at the sketches in front of me. Flour-dusted pages filled with delicate designs, tiers of smooth fondant, cascading sugar flowers, and intricate piping details.
The wedding cake had to be perfect.
I flipped through ideas, frowning.
Classic vanilla? Too boring.
Red velvet? Claire hated it.
A display of wedding cakes | Source: Midjourney
My pencil hovered over the page before I scribbled down the only choice that felt right.
Chocolate-peanut butter cake.
My lip twitched into a small smile. It was Liam’s favorite.
I could still picture us as kids, sitting on the kitchen floor, legs crossed as we licked chocolate frosting off the beaters. Our mom would make chocolate-peanut butter cupcakes every time Liam had a big event.
Cupcakes on a kitchen counter | Source: Midjourney
Birthdays, soccer games, even the time he got a participation trophy in third grade. He used to sneak into the kitchen and swipe extra spoonfuls of peanut butter frosting straight from the bowl.
“Best flavor in the world,” he’d say, licking it off his fingers.
A boy holding a cupcake | Source: Midjourney
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. Claire would probably want something fancy and pretentious. Some overpriced, trendy cake with sugared roses or some fancy French technique she found online.
But if I was pouring my heart into this cake, I wanted Liam to taste something familiar.
Something that felt like home.
A fancy wedding cake | Source: Midjourney
I pressed my pen into the paper, writing the final flavor choice in ink.
And then I exhaled, stretching my fingers. My fingers still ached from this morning’s baking.
A reminder of how far I’d come. A reminder of how much it had cost me.
A woman sitting at her desk | Source: Midjourney
My bakery was my dream. My entire world. And for a while, I thought my marriage had been, too.
I swallowed hard, my eyes flicking to the stack of unopened letters on the corner of my desk. Useless apologies from my ex-husband, the divorce lawyer’s final bills, and, of course, inventory of all my stock.
I had loved my husband. Deeply. And for a while, I thought he had loved me, too.
The exterior of a bakery | Source: Midjourney
But in the end, he had only loved what I built. The successful business. The prestige of being married to a pastry chef whose cakes and pastries were featured in magazines.
Not me.
And the day I finally realized that? It broke me. And I felt I had no choice but to leave him. Either that or be his private bank.
I squeezed my eyes shut, inhaling deeply.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
Not now, Dahlia. This is about Liam.
I squared my shoulders and picked up my pen again.
Focus.
Because no matter what, Liam deserved a perfect wedding cake. Even if I didn’t believe in happy endings anymore.
A woman sitting at her desk | Source: Midjourney
The morning of the wedding, I stood in the venue’s kitchen, carefully piping the final details onto the cake.
Guests were arriving, laughter spilling in from the grand hall. My heart swelled, knowing that I had helped bring this entire event together.
Then, my mom stormed in, her face like thunder.
“Sweetheart…” she hesitated, her hands gripping the kitchen counter. “You’re not on the guest list.”
An upset woman standing in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney
I let out a small laugh.
“What? That’s ridiculous. I’m literally holding their wedding cake.”
Mom’s face remained serious.
“Claire’s mom is checking the guest list. She says you’re not invited. And she won’t let you in.”
An upset woman standing in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney
My stomach dropped.
I set the piping bag down, my hands suddenly unsteady.
“Did she say why? What do you mean?”
Mom clenched her jaw.
“She refuses to explain.”
A person holding a piping bag | Source: Midjourney
A ringing noise filled my ears. I had spent months helping Claire plan this wedding. Months. And she didn’t even have the decency to tell me herself?
Mom was seething. Without another word, she stormed out to find Liam.
As for me?
I wiped my hands clean, pulled off my apron, and walked out of the side exit.
Broken.
The rear view of a woman | Source: Midjourney
Mom caught Liam just before the ceremony. He was adjusting his tie, smiling, completely unaware of what was happening.
“Liam,” she snapped. “Do you know that Claire didn’t invite your sister?”
Liam froze. His smile vanished.
An upset woman standing in a wedding venue | Source: Midjourney
“Wait. What? Why?”
“She won’t say. But she’s making sure Dahlia isn’t allowed inside. How can you allow that? She’s your sister!”
Liam’s face darkened. Without hesitation, he turned on his heel and marched straight to Claire.
A side-view of a groom | Source: Midjourney
Claire stood with her bridesmaids, basking in their compliments and practically glowing in her lace-covered gown.
She barely even looked up when Liam approached.
“Claire,” Liam said, his voice hard. “Did you seriously not invite my sister?”
A smiling bride | Source: Midjourney
Claire sighed, rolling her eyes.
“Ugh, babe. Not now,” she said. “Can we not do this on our wedding day?”
Liam didn’t move at all.
“Answer me.”
She huffed, clearly annoyed.
“Look, she helped us. So what? That was her gift to us. And honestly, let’s face it, it’s her job, too.”
A pensive groom | Source: Midjourney
Liam stared at her in disbelief.
“She paid for the food, Claire. She spent days baking the cake! And you just… what? Pretended she didn’t exist?”
Claire let out a dramatic sigh.
“Fine. You wanna know the reason? I didn’t want divorced people at our wedding. It’s bad energy, especially for the bride! I don’t want that kind of luck in our marriage! I didn’t invite a lot of my friends and cousins.”
A close up of a bride | Source: Midjourney
Liam’s jaw clenched.
“So you excluded my sister because she got a divorce?”
Claire shrugged.
“I mean… come on. It’s not my fault she couldn’t make it work. Why bring that kind of vibe to our day? And don’t be mad at me for just trying to stay happy? I’m superstitious, Liam! How do you not know this!?”
Liam fisted his hands at his sides, his entire body rigid with anger.
An upset groom | Source: Midjourney
“Marriages don’t fail because of ‘bad vibes,’ Claire. They fail because of selfish, cruel behavior. Like this!”
Claire’s smug expression faltered.
“Liam, don’t be dramatic. You’re seriously making a scene over this? You’re lucky I even let her help. I did her a favor.”
Liam stared at her for a long, cold moment.
A close up of a groom | Source: Midjourney
“You know what? You’re right,” he said calmly. “I don’t want bad energy at my wedding either.”
Claire frowned.
“Oh, so you understand what I mean?” she asked.
“No, I don’t,” he said. “Actually, I’m done. Just completely done.”
Liam wasn’t listening anymore. He turned on his heel and walked straight to the catering table.
Gasps filled the room as Liam grabbed the cake, but no one dared to stop him.
A wedding cake | Source: Midjourney
I was already home, curled up on the couch in stunned silence, when the doorbell rang.
I opened it to find Liam standing there, still in his suit, holding the wedding cake. For a second, neither of us spoke. His face was a mix of exhaustion and something heavier.
“I’m sorry you wasted your time and money on that wedding,” he said, his voice rough. “I’ll make her compensate you. But more than that…”
A woman standing in her doorway | Source: Midjourney
My brother exhaled, shaking his head.
“Thank you. Because without you, I might never have seen Claire for who she really is.”
My throat tightened.
Liam had always been my big brother. The one who looked out for me. And today, when it really mattered… he chose me.
A man standing on a porch | Source: Midjourney
I stepped aside, and he walked in, setting the cake down on my coffee table.
For a long moment, we just stared at it.
Then Liam let out a breathless laugh.
“You know, I haven’t eaten all day.”
I grabbed two forks.
“Then let’s fix that.”
An open cutlery drawer | Source: Midjourney
We sat on the floor, still in formal clothes, digging straight into the wedding cake like a couple of sugar-starved kids.
Liam took one bite, then froze. His eyes flicked to mine, a soft, almost broken sound escaping his throat.
“Chocolate-peanut butter,” he murmured.
“Yeah,” I swallowed thickly.
He stared at his fork, shaking his head.
A slice of cake | Source: Midjourney
“You made this for me,” he said.
It wasn’t a question. Just a quiet realization.
“Of course, I did, Liam.”
Liam pressed his lips together, nodding slowly. He took another bite, chewing carefully, like he was tasting more than just cake. Like he was remembering home.
A close up of a man | Source: Midjourney
After a moment, he cleared his throat.
“You know… if this was the wedding cake, I guess that means I got the best part of today.”
I blinked. He exhaled.
“I walked away from someone who didn’t respect me. From a future that would have been miserable.”
He looked at me then, his voice quiet but sure.
“But I still have you.”
“Always,” I whispered.
A woman sitting on the floor | Source: Midjourney
I was in my office, running my fingers over the edge of a new cake design, when I heard a soft knock on the door.
For a second, I thought I imagined it.
Then, it came again. Tentative. Hesitant.
I exhaled, already tired.
A woman sitting at her desk | Source: Midjourney
“Come in,” I called.
The door creaked open, and there she was.
Claire.
She looked… different. Not polished. Not smug. Just pale, uneasy, and carrying the kind of sadness that weighed down her shoulders.
I didn’t stand. I didn’t offer her a seat.
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A woman standing in a doorway | Source: Midjourney
I just folded my arms and waited.
“Hey.”
“You lost?” I raised an eyebrow.
She flinched but nodded, like she deserved that.
“No. I… I wanted to see you.”
I tilted my head, studying her.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
“I can’t imagine why.”
Claire swallowed, staring down at her hands.
“Liam won’t talk to me. Won’t see me… He…” Her voice caught, and for a split second, I saw genuine regret in her eyes.
But it didn’t move me.
She took a breath, trying again.
A man sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
“I messed up. I…” She exhaled sharply. “I was awful to you, Dahlia. I was selfish and cruel, and I…”
Her fingers twisted together.
“I never meant for things to go this way.”
I laughed, short and humorless.
“Really? Because it felt intentional.”
A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney
Claire winced.
“I thought…” she hesitated. “I thought I could control everything. That if I just pushed hard enough, I’d get my perfect day. And instead? I ruined everything.”
I didn’t say a word.
She glanced at me then, eyes uncertain.
“I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But I wanted to…”
“Stop,” my voice was flat. “You don’t get to want anything from me, Claire.”
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
She swallowed hard.
I stood.
“You used me. Lied to me. Now, get out of my bakery.”
She hesitated. Then nodded once and turned toward the door.
She paused, her hand on the handle.
“I really am sorry.”
I didn’t answer. And a moment later, she was gone.
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
Marianne’s stepsisters have been stealing from her for months. From money to respect to her sense of security in her own home. Her mother won’t listen. Her stepfather won’t believe her. But Marianne refuses to stay powerless. With one ruthless plan, she turns the tables… and ensures that they never take from her again.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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