Two thirds of young women feel inadequate when they compare themselves with media images of the ideal body shape.

Earlier this month, the Government organised the Self-Esteem and Body Image summit, where fashion magazine editors agreed to ensure a greater variety of women's body shapes were portrayed.

Paula Woolven, 28, of Ambleside Avenue, Telscombe Cliffs, went as a representative of Body Shop Direct, to present the Body Shop's self-esteem campaign. Here Paula tells of her own struggle.

About eight weeks ago, I was working in the mini-office under my stairs when I happened to catch the end of a news bulletin announcing the Government was holding a summit in June to discuss the impact the fashion and beauty industry had on the general public.

Research had revealed women of all ages may not be achieving their full potential due to low self-esteem and the feeling of 'not living up to' the images that are portrayed in all areas of the media.

I have promoted The Body Shop's self-esteem campaign for more than 18 months through Body Shop Direct, which celebrates diversity and discourages harmful self-criticism.

I have appeared on many daytime TV shows talking about self-esteem issues and am also concerned as a young mum of two children how they will grow up to see themselves. Obviously every parent would like to see their children achieve every goal they set in life.

I also have personal experience of low self-esteem having doubled in dress size in less than five years (size ten to a size 20) after having my children.

Why is the word "fat" used as an insult in the modern world?

I was unable to buy fashionable clothes and hated the reaction from shop assistants when I asked if they stocked my size.

Before I joined the Body Shop Direct, my self-esteem was very low. When I began to read the material on the 'Know your mind, love your body' issues published by the company, I began to realise my problem.

I criticised myself and that enabled others to repeat back what I was saying about myself.

I had to learn to like myself, even if I was unable to fully accept my size. I am now achieving goals I never imagined possible.

But self-esteem is not just a weight issue on either end of the scale.

It is a very complex set of different factors in everyone's lives, which can include the very powerful force of body image. It affects people in many different ways, some positive, but most negative.

Ask everyone around you, 'What do you think about your body?' Will you hear, 'I have nice eyes' or, 'I quite like my shoulders'? No. You are more likely to hear, 'My stomach isn't flat' or, 'I hate my feet.'

I contacted the Cabinet Office and asked to be considered for an invitation as I felt I would have a relevant and very real request to make to the other delegates.

I hoped the summit would represent the beginning of a commitment from the media and the fashion and beauty industry to find an honest new concept of beauty and I was delighted to find the majority of people there were attentive, open to new ideas and putting forward some excellent comments and suggestions.

These included the idea that fashion and beauty is a pleasure for some women in the way that football is for men. It is a very powerful medium and we could look for a joint venture in the industry to ensure that well-being and self-esteem is promoted positively and actively with a wide range of images being used rather than mainly stereotypes of so-called "beauty."

Caryn Franklin, of the Clothes Show, made the very valid point that as an industry that thrives on creativity, we should be leading the way into the future as other industries look to us for the current styles.

Susie Orbach, former psychotherapist to Princess Diana, gave a wonderful presentation and recommended that we look towards celebrating the fact that we are all different sizes and shapes.

Liz Jones, editor of Marie Claire, outlined the result of producing a double edition of the magazine with images of a different sized model, which were placed side by side at sales outlets.

Sixty-five per cent of purchasers chose the edition featuring Sophie Dahl, the size 14 model.

Jo Elvin, of New Woman, made the point that, whatever your size, not being the absolute image of what the fashion world dictated as ideal made you subject to ridicule.

Other points that came out were the idea of educating children in schools the value of self-worth and how to build on their strengths rather than concentrating on weaknesses, although it was also pointed out that this education would be worthless if children realised the images around them did not reflect what they were being taught.

Well-being I believe the summit opened a few eyes in an industry that is capable of creating an enormous sense of well-being and high self-esteem in women and in the public in general.

I made many exciting contacts with people who are willing to take the self-esteem message of the Body Shop Direct.

I have a very simple paragraph pinned in my office and it inspires me every day: 'Everyone occupies a space in our society, so be proud of your space and make the most of your life. It may not come easily but it can be the first step out of the door to the rest of the world.'