ONE lady is flying the flag for the 'big and beautiful' in Essex with her plus size clothing store.
Karen Hanlon, 49, has opened up Generous, a shop for larger women and men in Maldon, after tiring of the lack of choice on the high street.
"I'm a big lady myself and I got fed-up of having so much trouble getting the right clothes, so I decided to do it for myself," said Karen, from St Lawrence Bay.
"It's a subject I've always been passionate about and, as I turn 50 this year, I thought now was the time to make it happen.
"I don't think there's anything else like this in Essex at the moment."
The small store opposite Wantz Road stocks the latest fashions for women up to a size 30, and XXXXXL for men with extra-wide collars catering for a niche market that has been neglected for too long, according to Karen.
"People are just so excited about the opportunity to come in and try stuff on rather than simply being forced to buy online," she said.
"They're jumping up and down with glee at what we have on offer," added Karen, who launched the shop in December last year.
Previously working in the customer service department of Point Graphics, a publishing company, Karen had always found herself frustrated at the lack of choice for larger people.
"It did take some time to find suppliers who could provide me with the fashions I wanted," she said. "But now I have quite a few I deal with in the UK. I've just returned from an exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham where I made even more contacts.
"People will be surprised at just how trendy we are. I'm a proper girl and I like to dress up, so I source clothes I would want to wear myself," she said.
Karen cited her 19-year-old son as one of her inspirations for launching the boutique.
Myles stands at 6ft 3ins tall and has always struggled to find outfits to fit his large frame.
"Me and my family have often found it difficult to shop on the high street.
"But now I hope Generous can cater for bigger people by providing fashionable, high-quality clothes for men and women.
"We're the little shop with big options."
