In this new series, we seek out local runners who not only run or brisk walk to maintain their fitness, but also for a purpose.

This week, we speak with 29-year-old Fiona Tan, who weighs 97kg, and stands at 1.68m. Tan is plus-sized, and has been so since she was eight. But while she used to feel upset about weight, she has since fully embraced her own body, and even won a beauty pageant for plus-sized women recently.

The makeover stylist will be taking part in her first running event on Nov 13 at the Great Eastern Women’s Run, in the 5km category. While Tan admits that she dislikes running, she is hopeful of changing that so that she can exercise more and lead a healthier lifestyle.

Tan hopes that by taking part in the run, she can inspire other plus-sized women who are feeling down about their image to stop feeling inferior about themselves. She wants them to know that they can also be happy and confident. She also wants to tell them that they are not alone and that they can find a friend in her.

Q: Can you tell us about the beauty pageant that you won?

I took part in my first beauty pageant in Latvia three months ago. I was the only Asian at the competition, and there were nine other contestants and they all looked really pretty.

I won the competition and was named Miss Top of the World, Plus Size. It was the first time they held a plus-sized beauty pageant under the banner, although the competition has been around for six years.

I didn’t know what to expect at the pageant, and was really nervous. But everyone was friendly, and I guess we formed a little community too as we were all plus-sized women who embraced ourselves and our bodies.

We practised our catwalk a lot and had a swimsuit photo shoot as well. We also got to model in our national gowns. I designed my gown myself and paraded it. I always wanted to be a fashion designer, but I never really got the opportunity so I was excited at the chance to do something on this stage.

We also had to showcase a talent that we have, and so I sang “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera. I thought it was a very fitting song for the pageant. The song is about being beautiful inside and out, and not letting someone else’s words bring you down.

Q: Why did you decide to join this beauty pageant?

I got to know about this pageant from my friend who is in the beauty and cosmetics business. She recommended me to join it, and I saw it as a platform to spread my word about how plus-sized women can be beautiful and confident too. Other than our size, we are no different than other women. We like to look beautiful too, and are smart ladies.

Not every plus-sized woman is ready to show herself to the world though, or share her story, but I want to do it to encourage others to come out of their shells and shine.

Winning the pageant is a bonus. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it boosted my confidence, although I definitely don’t go around wearing my crown and telling people about it. I think most importantly, people like me because of my personality and that I am a real person.

Q: How tough was it growing up being plus sized?

It was tough. I’ve been pretty much plus sized since I was eight.

My father used to be very unhappy about me being overweight. He was an army officer, so that was probably why he was always very strict with me. He also had anger management issues due to stress from work. Although I realised as I grew up, that it was his way of loving me, I was traumatised as a child.

For example, I would be punished if I didn’t run on a treadmill for an hour a day. He would make me kneel down overnight sometimes.

I cried very often back then, almost daily.

Every time we went out for family dinners with relatives, I dreaded them because I would be scolded and scrutinised in front of everybody. He just kept scolding me for being fat, and putting me down. He had this very fearful side of him, and it was very scary.

He would also imply that I would never be someone great just because I am fat. He would often say “have you seen a fat doctor?”

My tough childhood has always stuck with me, and it was not until recently that I managed to get past it completely and not let it get to me.

Q: Have you ever tried to lose weight?

There was a period when I was really feeling very down about my weight. I tried everything but just couldn’t slim down - dieting, needles, herbal pills, other medication, and all sorts of unhealthy ways then. I wanted everything to be fast too, but nothing worked.

I went for full-body liposuction in Bangkok when I was 21. It was a painful process.

But when I told my family of my decision, my dad was happy. It was as though he was respecting me for the first time, because I was taking this step to make a change in my life and he respected that.

The maximum weight that liposuction could remove was 5kg. But they gave me pills after the procedure so that I can continue my slimming programme. I came back to Singapore, and went to the gym, and I also ran. I ended up losing 22kg in three months, going from 94kg to 72kg.

However, the irony was I came to realise I wasn’t happy after that. I just exercised and ate really little. Eating little was one of the things that made me unhappy too.

I felt lost too. It was like I had become a different person, and people treated me differently too after I slimmed down. They were generally nicer to me. I remembered how nobody would come to help me out when I fell down in the past, for example, but now, people would. It was like I was living a different life. I was having fun at the start, but then I didn’t know how to accept the new me. I felt like I lost a bit of my personality.

I wanted to gain confidence and feel happy not from losing weight like that. I gained back my weight after that, and decide to fully embrace myself.

Q: Why did you decide to take part in the Great Eastern Women’s Run (GEWR)?

I am taking part in the 5km run with my friend, Joyce.

After winning my pageant, I thought about some parts of my life that I would like to improve now that I am the face of a plus-sized beauty queen title, I feel that I have a responsibility to show what it means to be beautiful.

I also feel like I could lead a healthier lifestyle. I have a sleep apnea problem as well, which I would like to improve through living more healthily.

Also, in this run, I feel like I represent confidence for women. If my taking part in the run and sharing my story can influence other women to feel as good and confident about themselves, then I will have achieved my cause.

I am not a fan of running, to be honest, but because it is challenging for me, I want to overcome it. It is one of the best cardio exercises that gets my heart rate up. I never completed a 2.4km run back in secondary school, so I like to finally finish a race and set a new milestone in my life.

Q: How do you plan to continue with your running and exercise regime after that?

I started training about a month ago, and I am now working out three to five times a week with a friend who is a personal trainer.

I want to see if I can continue running and taking part in races. I also want to explore other fun activities like hip-hop dance, or zumba.

My aim is not really to lose weight, but to be healthier. Losing weight is just the by-product of it.

My message is that you can be plus sized, and confident and healthy. Just incorporate more healthy activities into your life, eat more healthily, and enjoy the process.

Q: What would you like to say to other plus sized people who have not made that first step to run?

Anybody can run. It can be a challenge, but do take that first step. There is nothing to be embarrassed about, and if you feel that way, come down to the GEWR because we are all women here and we support one another. So to those reading this story, and feel like running, come down to the run, and if you see me during race day, come say hi. Don’t be shy.