Much like Jodie Marsh, former fashion model Emma Blocksage, better known as Emma B, has caused a stir with her dramatic transformation into a body builder.

Having just won first place in the bikini category at the UKBFF MuscleTalk Championships last week, Emma has revealed that instead of receiving support from the public, she’s endured bullying about her new look.

Modelling in a swimwear shoot in New Magazine, the 33-year-old said she was shocked to discover online abuse, with commenters calling her super-toned body ‘disgusting’ and a ‘freak show’.

“It really hurt and I cried and for hours,” she told the magazine. “People said I looked old and like a drag queen. It’s not for everyone, but I’m not emaciated. We just wear the tan and the make-up for the shows, but it’s not a look you’d wear to Tesco or walking down the street.”

Outlining the reasoning behind changing her body shape, she continued: “I wanted to lose the 4st I put on during pregnancy. I was 9st 2lb before and I’m 5ft 9in. So I began training for a half-marathon and someone in my gym mentioned these competitions, which are massive in the US and Europe.”

Emma told New that she loves her new body, but regrets having a breast augmentation so young. “I don’t like my boobs. I think that getting them done at 22 was a mistake. If I could give any advice to young girls it’d be: ‘Don’t get a boob job’. One day you’ll be 32 then 42,” she said, explaining that she doesn’t want to be a 50-year-old woman with an unnaturally large chest.

Discussing the unavoidable comparisons made between Emma and fellow model-turned bodybuilder Jodie Marsh, Emma commented: “I know Jodie and what she’s achieved is amazing. But I’m a bikini competitor, which is more about being toned and fit than building muscle. I’d never have the discipline to do what she’s done and that look isn’t for me.”

Despite the fact that Emma’s look clearly isn’t as extreme as Jodie’s, the mother-of-one still received criticism when pictures of her at the competition (see above) wearing a skimpy red bikini were published. However, the team at Talent Management think the fact she wants to prove to herself that she can take on a challenge and succeed is great. “I want to prove that women aged 30+ with children can still be fit, in-shape and sexy!” she said.

While we’re not saying everyone should go out and get super-toned, as avid fans of diverse body imagery, we do think Emma is doing a great job of breaking the traditional ideas of beauty and femininity by combining a glamorous and sexy look with displays of strength and power. Let’s hope Emma allows more people to see beauty in a different light.