A 15-year-old girl has spoken movingly about how her confidence \u201csky-rocketed\u201d after being chosen as the face of a new shop specialising in plus size prom dresses.<\/p>\n
Ruby-May Walker has signed up as a plus size model for Ffansi Ffrogs in Ruthin that\u2019s been launched by mother and daughter team Wendy Thompson and Robyn Unsworth.<\/p>\n
The Year 11 student at Welsh language high school Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, in Wrexham, was thrilled to take part in her first photo shoot at the historic Ruthin Castle Hotel.<\/p>\n
Wendy and Robyn opened their first Ffansi Ffrogs shop in Ruthin in 2023, selling conventionally sized prom dresses. and things went even better than they could have hoped for.<\/p>\n
But they entrepreneurial duo spotted a gap in the market for plus sized prom dresses and have now opened their second shop just stocking glamorous gowns from size 18 up to size 30.<\/p>\n
Ruby-May, who lives in Coedpoeth, admits she had been terrified at the prospect of having to choose a dress for what has become the school social event of the year.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cI was excited about the prom but nervous about finding a dress and then I saw an advert on Instagram about a shop that wanted plus size girls.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t want to go to a dress shop for the prom and was putting it off for ages but then I saw this and thought there wouldn\u2019t be the same pressure to choose something right away.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was also the fact that they had two shops, one just for plus size, that made me sure everything there would fit.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was excited about the prom but nervous about finding a dress because everyone makes such a big deal about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to make a big entrance but was worried about how I would look compared to everyone else but knowing there was a shop that has dresses for me made me more confident.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ruby-May made the appointment and her mum, Liz Crompton, drove her to Ruthin and admitted: \u201cShe was very nervous and quiet on the way and said what if nothing fits and there\u2019s nothing nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was still a nerve-wracking moment walking in to Ffansi Frogs but Ruby-May said: \u201cI thought there would be less choice but there were lots of dresses and I could try everything on and although I haven\u2019t made a final decision I\u2019ve seen dresses in my size that are really gorgeous because I wanted something that was really me.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinding a shop like Ffansi Ffrogs where I can try anything on has been really amazing because I was confident that everything I tried on would fit.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really given me a boost \u2013 I tried on every dress in the shop and just kept thinking it\u2019s this one, no this one, no, this one.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was crazy trying on dresses I wouldn\u2019t have considered before because I don\u2019t often wear dresses \u2013 I\u2019m usually in skirts and T-shirts.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mum came with me to the shop and was really impressed with the dresses and all the colours and styles.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely made me more confident because I feel I stand out in a good way and look amazing.<\/p>\n
\u201cGirls should go for it and not be scared, keep an open mind and try everything because this is your one chance to go to a prom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wendy, a qualified lawyer and a mum, of two, had formerly run a children\u2019s play business in her native Wigan but decided to try something very different after she moved to Ruthin and seeing the lack of options in North Wales daughter Robyn had in trying to find a prom dress.<\/p>\n
She and Robyn, now in her final year of sixth form at Ysgol Brynhyfryd in Ruthin, opened Ffansi Ffrogs in Ruthin last year and were overwhelmed by the response from teenage girls of all sizes celebrating the end of Year 11 GCSE exams.<\/p>\n
The shop has attracted customers from right across North Wales and even into the English border counties with their dresses ranging in price from \u00a3205 to \u00a3575 for that special evening celebrated now by 85 per cent of UK secondary schools.<\/p>\n
This year the numbers of girls contacting the shop to arrange visits has gone through the roof and Wendy said: \u201cAt Ffansi Ffrogs we don\u2019t do walk-ins. It\u2019s all appointment only so we can give each girl the attention she deserves and in the new plus size shop we can guarantee an unrivalled range of dresses that will fit girls of size 18 and above.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe stock from size 18 up to size 30 in a variety of styles and so they can try everything and see how it looks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey want to see how they look in a dress that\u2019s their size and that is what the new shop allows them to do \u2013 it gives them the same experience as our other shop.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted them to know that they could try every dress on in the shop.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mum Liz added: \u201cRuby-May was worried she wouldn\u2019t look good in anything but Wendy and Robyn at Ffansi Ffrogs were amazing. They really put her at ease.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen she looked at herself in the mirror and said, \u2018Mum, I look beautiful\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was just smiling and looking at herself in the mirror.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ruby-May added: \u201cFfansi Ffrogs was great \u2013 it was just like trying on a dress with friends rather than in a store.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was relaxed and I never felt pressured to pick something then and there. In fact I still haven\u2019t finally made my mind up which dress to choose \u2013 but I\u2019ve got a pretty good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more on Ffansi Ffrogs go to their website at <\/strong>https:\/\/ffansiffrogs.co.uk\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n