LAUNCHING a fashion label for curvy women in Dorchester is a ‘dream come true’ for actress and presenter Lisa Riley.

The range, called Just Be You, is exclusively available in Figure Eight, an independent fashion boutique in Tudor Arcade, Dorchester, and online.
And the clothes are all made on site at the store, owned and run by Elaine Keetch.

Elaine initiated the partnership by contacting Lisa’s agent to see if she would be interested in collaborating on a fashion label.

In an interview with the Dorset Echo, former Emmerdale actress and You've Been Framed presenter Lisa said: “It would have been so easy to put my name to a brand and let someone run with it, like I have before. But this was different.
Months and months of creativity and hard work have gone into this.”

Lisa was full of praise for Elaine, who she described as being ‘full of dedication and drive’.
She added: “Dorchester should be exceedingly proud of her.”

Lisa, 39, recently hit the headlines for backing calls by X Factor judge Cheryl Fernandez-Versini to make body shaming illegal. Cheryl came under fire for being too thin.

Lisa said: “We shouldn’t be judged just because we are in the public eye. You wouldn’t walk into a bank and mention someone’s weight. It’s just Cheryl’s body shape, that’s how she is.”

Does she think celebrities who may be role models for children have a responsibility to present a positive body image?

“They love her because of her pop music, because she’s warm and sympathetic, not because of her shape. She’s the sort of girl you can imagine going to dinner with. I think she’s brilliant.”

Lisa has had her own struggles with weight, losing four stone since appearing on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

But her clothing range is designed for larger women to feel ‘sexy and confident’. Clothing is available for plus size women, but with the label being manufactured on site, orders for any sizes can be taken.

Lisa will attend the launch of the range at the store from 12pm on Thursday, where she will also be signing copies of her book 'Never judge a book by its cover'.

Elaine said: “It’s a really personal collection from Lisa. She’s put a lot of effort into it and it really comes from her heart.”

Lisa said the name of her fashion range was inspired by her mother, who told her ‘just be you’ when she was considering appearing on Strictly. Shortly after, Lisa’s mother died of cancer.

Elaine added: “Lisa is now looking at developing another two lines in the range with more mid-range prices.

“It’s really nice to be able to bring work into the town. It’s a very exciting time for us.”