A SINGLE mum from Elton has played a starring role in an advert celebrating active women of all shapes and sizes – which has gone viral and been watched by millions of people.

Kelly Stevens is part of the’ This Girl Can’ campaign, which has received more than eight million Facebook shares and 6.7 million YouTube views.

The initiative was launched last month after Sport England discovered that, while 75 per cent of women wanted to do more exercise, fear of judgement was their biggest barrier.

High-profile primetime TV adverts and billboards are now celebrating women of different sporting abilities and promoting realistic body image by starring ladies who sweat and jiggle as they exercise.

Kelly stars in a short film entitled “Kelly vs ‘Mummy!” after losing more than three and a half stone, reducing her body fat by 11 per cent and dropping four dress sizes.

In late 2013, the 31-year-old, who works in debt management, was feeling sluggish and had low self esteem after putting on weight during her third pregnancy.

Kelly now enjoys working out at home with her son Ashaie, aged seven, and daughters Kasiya, aged five, and two-year-old Shaniyah.

She said: “I started working out indoors because I did not have time to go out, and plus my confidence and self esteem was that low I had the fear of being judged.

“So I started running up and down the stairs for cardio and stamina and doing workout exercise videos I found on YouTube.”

Kelly said exercise is a family time her children enjoy, because she wants them to grow up seeing being active as fun and not a chore.

She added: “What This Girl Can addresses was an untouched subject and it has really hit the nail on the head.

“I am so proud to be a part of giving women that confidence, inspiring them and motivating them.

“It does not matter how good you are or what you do – if this girl can, really any girl can.”

Another star from the ‘This Girl Can’ advert is 16-year-old Alice Walmsley who is featured running near her home in Cranbrook Street, Radcliffe.

Alice, a former Derby High pupil who is currently on a barbering course at Bury College, said: “The one thing I think This Girl Can really teaches people is there is no perfect body. The only perfect body is when you feel comfortable in your own body.”

Alice began jogging in the gym four years ago, after quickly going from being severely underweight to overweight as a teenager.

She added: , said: “All my friends have been inspired by the advert and are going wild about it.

“I loved taking part as I have always wanted to be on television since I was a kid.

“I am not one of those girls who has perfect looks and a perfect figure and I think that is what the advert is really saying – it is for women of any shape and any size.”

In March 2013, it was announced Bury had been chosen to host pioneering £2.3 million Sport England pilot ‘I Will If You Will’ to get more women involved in activity.

Insights from ‘I Will If You Will’, such as how to approach women at different stages of fitness and understanding their barriers and motivations, have fed into the ‘This Girl Can’ campaign.

Sport England's chief executive officer Jennie Price, said: “In 'This Girl Can', we want to tell the real story of women who exercise and play sport. They come in all shapes and sizes and all levels of ability.”

To watch the adverts and films: go to thisgirlcan.co.uk