THE winner of the Highland News Group's 10 Years Younger competition is gearing up for her big reveal.
Anita Crant has been put through her paces by a host of beauty industry experts, dental specialists and fitness instructors for the past 12 weeks and is now set to lift the lid on her new appearance.
The 44-year-old, who previously described herself as a "psychedelic butterfly trapped inside a crusty cocoon", will showcase her new look in the exciting reveal event taking place at Debenhams on Sunday, which will be compered by MFR's breakfast host Nicky Marr.
She said: "I'm feeling quite nervous about the launch at the moment. When I first started the makeover process, the reveal seemed so far away and now I can't believe it's actually coming around."
Anita, who works as a nurse at the dermatology department in Raigmore Hospital, revealed an army of family, friends and work colleagues will be there to cheer her on at the big event, including her mother Rita Keans who has not seen her throughout the whole process!
She said: "They are all coming to give me their support, which is great.
"My mum said at the beginning that she wasn't going to see me throughout the makeover and we've managed to keep it up, so I think she is going to be very happy when she sees the result as I look quite different to how I did before."
Anita told the HNG she entered the competition sponsored by Rosedene House, Fit4Less and Eden Dental Clinic because she felt she missed out on her 30s due to depression and then before she knew it she was hitting 40.
She said: "I was married and we split up and I was left on my own with the boys. I basically had my head down and was trying to get through life.
"I ended up with depression and was having anxiety attacks and I never went out.
"Basically the years just passed me by in a blur - what I was going to be wearing or how I looked was the last thing on my mind."
But the mum-of-two, of Fairfield Road in Inverness, has completely transformed her appearance since becoming the 2011 winner. She's dropped two dress sizes after being pointed in the right direction by personal trainer Stuart Main at Fit4Less in Harbour Road.
She said: "I never realised how much doing exercise does make a difference to your life.
"I've dropped two dress sizes since beginning this makeover, I was a size 18 but now I am a size 14 and I don't feel frumpy anymore.
"I think my goal would probably to reach a size 12 but I just want to see where the exercise takes me. I just want to keep going and keep improving my fitness.
"I have got so much more energy and I just feel a lot better within myself. Everyone at work has noticed the difference and I think I've fired up a few of my colleagues to take up the gym too."
Anita said having sessions with a personal trainer has been invaluable to her new fitness regime.
She said: "I've just learned so much. Before if I went to the gym I would just stick to the safe machines and if I was getting tired just stop.
"But I learned what I thought I was capable of and what I am actually capable of are two completely different things now that I have had the personal training sessions."
Anita also has a brand new set of sparkling gnashers to show off to the audience at her big reveal, courtesy of Eden Dental Clinic.
Anita was no stranger to having work done on her teeth after previously spending hundreds of pounds to have work done on her top set of teeth, but now happily her bottom set match after being treated to a new smile.
She said: "The dental treatment has been absolutely lovely, just to know within myself that my teeth match and that I have got good teeth is really good.
"Ken the dentist made me feel at ease throughout the process. I definitely smile more confidently now."
Anita said in general she is more confident in her appearance after the £8,000 makeover prize.
She said: "It's been the opportunity of a lifetime. To really concentrate on myself for a while has been great. "It's also been so interesting learning about different things and looking at my face differently to how I did before.
"Some women feel intimidated going to a salon and feel it's only for glamorous people, but it's really not."
You can see the big reveal at 2pm on Sunday at Debenhams in the Eastgate Centre, Inverness.
