Marsh's New Look

A popular Essex girl. A former glamour model. A plastic surgery fanatic and the star of her self-named reality televison show, 'Totally Jodie Marsh'.

Showbiz editors, reporters, photographers and readers sat back in shock last month registering the latest pictures of her newest body modification. It wasn't another set of veneers nor another dodgy nose augmentation. It wasn't cheek or chin implants, as already suspected, or a modification to her already-enlarged 32GG breasts. This transformation didn't involve a white-coated plastic surgeon or a sterile steel-countered clinic; this change involved her own self-discipline, determination and will for a difference.

Jodie Marsh during her glamour model career

Jodie Marsh had become a female bodybuilder, scooping 5th prize at the Natural Physique Association Mike Williams Classic and ProAm Bodybuilding Championships.

Her interest in the sport sparked in 2009 after she met up with Tim Sharp, a popular celebrity personal trainer in the Essex region and owner of the aptly-named training gym 'Sharp Bodies'. Not the first woman by any means to take up the intense physical sport, most people were just shocked by the extreme changes that had overcome her body. Dropping from a UK Size 10 to 6 and from 25% body fat to 10%, Jodie's photographs looked like mock-ups, her small face on a different woman's body.

Speaking to The Sun newspaper and admitting on first sight of her body photographed she believed she looked like The Hulk, Jodie expressed her own shock at seeing such a drastic change in her body. She has said she feels 'the prettiest she's ever been', ironic as most people view such a muscle-augmented body the furthest thing from an attractive female form. The UK Daily Mail describes Jodie's 'amazing new look' and presents several photographs of her body at the latest competition to readers.

Always a fan of tattoos, Jodie has admitted her tattoo-adorned body is not an advantage for body-building competitions as they do not allow for visible muscle definition. She describes applying heavy amounts of dark fake tan to hide the inkings and define her new muscly shape even further.

Having always been a controversial 'Marmite' sport, people tend to be either avid fanatics or disgusted by the female bodybuilding scene. The first women physisque contests began in the 1960s in the United States but consisted solely of lightly-toned stomachs and small, appropriately-positioned bikinis. In the late 1970s the 'real' female bodybuilding scene kicked off with the first US Woman's National Physique Championship in Canton, Ohio in 1978.

Attempts at feminising the sport have permeated female bodybuilding throughout the last three decades. Controversy has been sparked on numerous occasions when judges have been thought to be judge on marketability rather than the set standards of weights, muscle definitions and body fat measurements. 'Why should it be any different for the ladies?', people argue. Like any sport it is easier for the men to earn more money, receive more sponsorship and occupy more television spots.

Spot the former glamour model

Definitely not the most extreme of female bodybuilders, Jodie Marsh seems to have proved to herself that she can alter her body through simple, yet tough, diet and exercise regimes. Featuring on the Irish television chat and current affairs show, The Late Late Show, last week, Jodie looked smaller on camera then perceived from the photographs. Her next aim is to reduce her augmented breast size to allow for further muscle definition.

Jodie has previously discussed being bullied in school to newspapers and magazines. Always on the look for public gratification it seems, she has consistently and constantly strived for media and press attention. Being voted first out of the Celebrity Big Brother House by 80% of the housemates and 45% of the public would do nothing for your self-esteem. Being booed from the audience at official openings of events and amenities wouldn't either.

For me, it seems Jodie's constant altering of her body image points towards low self-esteem and high insecurity. This can become a problem when risking the temptation of the surgeon's knife on an ongoing basis, as many do. Her latest body image may not be every girl's aim, every man's dream or every glamour model's next career step, but if it has only entailed her own determination, self-discipline and hard work under the safe eye of a qualified personal trainer, I can only wish her every luck in her venture.