Bikini model who was a self-described ‘plain Jane’ at school reveals how she became ‘a different person’ and learned how to embrace her looks after discovering self-help books
- Roxy Sullivan, 31, from Cardiff, says she was a geek at school plagued by acne
- Admits she was very shy and a self-confessed ‘plain Jane’ until she hit sixth form
- Claims reading a self-help book and having hypnotherapy at 18 changed her life
- Is now working as personal trainer full time after being furloughed at office job
A stunning bikini model has made such a radical transformation from her ‘plain Jane’ school days that many of her old classmates no longer recognise her.
Growing up, Roxy Sullivan, now 31, from Cardiff, was a self-confessed geek who had acne, didn’t wear make-up and wouldn’t talk to people she didn’t know.
But at the age of 18 she read a self-help book and embraced hypnotherapy, which she claims put her on a path to becoming a different person ‘both mentally and physically’.
She went on to study public health nutrition at university and had a series of office jobs during her twenties. As her confidence grew, Roxy began lifting weights around the time she moved to Bristol four years ago and immediately saw how it changed her body.
Roxy Sullivan, now 31, from Cardiff, has made such a radical transformation from her ‘plain Jane’ school days that many of her old classmates no longer recognise her
Roxy (pictured in her school days) was a self-confessed geek who had acne, didn’t wear make-up and wouldn’t talk to people she didn’t know
Teaching herself with YouTube videos and books, she quickly turned her slender physique into a sleek athletic build which motivated her further to start taking more care over her appearance.
She began entering bikini competitions before qualifying as a personal trainer three years ago – something she initially did part-time.
Since being furloughed, Roxy went full-time and now plans to pursue it as her main source of income, along with modelling, once lockdown ends.
All of this has transformed her from an ‘anxious and shy’ teenager into a confident and outgoing adult who looks worlds apart from her former self.
Roxy, who now regularly shares glamorous snaps to Instagram, told FEMAIL: ‘You wouldn’t recognise me physically and mentally if you knew me when I was at school – a lot of people don’t.
At the age of 18 (pictured) Roxy read a self-help book and embraced hypnotherapy, which she claims put her on a path to becoming a different person ‘both mentally and physically’
‘I was really skinny growing up – my legs were just as thick as my arms. Now I’ve got an athletic figure and I’m a completely different person.
‘I was painfully shy as a child. I was a geek and academic and didn’t get into trouble.
‘I had a bit of acne and never wore make-up because my dad didn’t like it – so I wasn’t really able to explore it. I was a bit of a plain Jane.
‘Things changed when I went to sixth form and I was put with people I didn’t know. I was forced to talk and thrown in the deep end.
As her confidence grew, Roxy began lifting weights around the time she moved to Bristol four years ago and immediately saw how it changed her body
‘When I was 18 I bought a self-help book and that really started to build my confidence. That and more life experience have made me a different person.
‘It has been a gradual process but wearing make-up and glamming myself did help. If you feel confident on the inside, you feel confident on the outside.’
Roxy now rarely leaves the house without perfect hair and make-up and says she feels ‘quite glam’.
Roxy now rarely leaves the house without perfect hair and make-up and says she feels ‘quite glam’
And the transformation has given her a more lucrative career, as well as a new lease of life.
She said: ‘I make more money per hour doing personal training. My office job was £10 an hour but personal training is around £35 an hour so there’s potential to make a lot more money.
‘Before lockdown I was working 80 hours a week. I worked from 8.30am until 5pm so I could only train people before or after work or on the weekend.
Rozy says her dramatic transformation hasn’t just done wonders for her confidence, but it’s also helped her launch a new lucrative career as a personal trainer
‘Sometimes I’d train people before work so I’d have to get up at 5am and be out the door for 6am. I wouldn’t get home until 9am sometimes and I barely saw my boyfriend.
‘The only day I had off was Sunday and I had no social life. Now I’ve got more clients but a much better work-life balance.
‘It’s given me a better quality of life and I’m focused on building up my client base now.’