Weight loss leads to national award for Worthing teenager

Nineteen-year-old student Charlotte Randall, from Worthing, was named Slimming World's Young Slimmer of the Year after losing 4st 10lbs.
Charlotte Randall, Young slimmer of the year after losing 5st.  Pictured at The Ritz.   Picture:  Harry HubbardCharlotte Randall, Young slimmer of the year after losing 5st.  Pictured at The Ritz.   Picture:  Harry Hubbard
Charlotte Randall, Young slimmer of the year after losing 5st. Pictured at The Ritz. Picture: Harry Hubbard

Winning the national award has encouraged Charlotte to pursue her life-long ambition of singing and dancing on stage.

Charlotte said: “My weight held me back a lot in my college studies. I was always the shy one hiding at the back in baggy clothes, and I’d never put myself forward for roles. Now I attend extra dance lessons outside of college and even had the confidence to take part in a dance competition recently.”

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Numerous embarrassing incidents encouraged the teenager to join Slimming World, including her trousers ripping in public and being given a seatbelt extension on a rollercoaster at Thorpe Park.

Charlotte, who went from a size 18/20 to a size 10/12, said: “It was really hard for me in the beginning because I was only 17 and the youngest in the group. I was embarrassed because I felt that I shouldn’t have let myself get to this point at such a young age. I shouldn’t have worried though because everyone was so friendly. Now I absolutely love going to Slimming World every week and I really enjoy hearing how everyone else has got on.”

Her aim is to motivate more people to lose weight, especially young people.

She said: “Being overweight as a young person can be very difficult and something I wish no one had to go through, so if I can inspire just one person to make a change I’ll be very happy. Losing weight isn’t a fix for all of life’s problems, but it’s a great start and losing weight has certainly changed things for me and my family.”