A DUNFERMLINE teacher who's undergone 20 operations due to a rare brain tumour could now have a shot at being crowned Miss Pinup UK.

Yvonne Kavanagh, 33, was diagnosed with Cushing's disease aged 17, which caused her to gain weight and use a wheelchair, and left her badly scarred from her shoulders to her toes.

The illness knocked her self-esteem, but brave Yvonne – who was given the all-clear in January after 16 years – stayed positive and now hopes to inspire others by entering the pin-up competition.

The drama, dance and sign language teacher, of Redwing Wynd in Duloch, aims to show that “you don't have a certain look, dress a certain way or be a certain size”, and also wants to raise awareness of living with a disability by taking part in the all-inclusive event.

She told the Press: “The tumour was on my pituitary gland and made my body react in the same way as it would to steroid abuse, causing massive stretch marks all over my body.

“I went from an active teenager to being in a wheelchair for two years. I was very large because of the illness and had low body confidence and self-esteem.”

Cushing's disease affects around 10 to 15 people per million and is caused by a tumour or excess growth of the pituitary gland. It can lead to impaired immunological function, high blood pressure, thin skin and recurrent infection.

Yvonne added: “I missed out on my teenage years and having to rebuild my life as an adult was quite terrifying, so I used the arts, drama, dance and modelling to build myself back up.”

She's now been a pin-up model for around 10 years, having done shoots ranging from 1950s glamour and horror, to big-feathers-and-fans showgirl.

She creates variety shows for charity and fund-raises for Heels for Combat Boots, a non-profit organisation which helps military personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

However, Miss Pinup UK is a step into the unknown, as “I'll be putting myself out there, being on the internet, in front of people, to be judged”.

She explained: “This is taking it to the next level. The reason I was up for it was because I'm one of the only ones who's badly scarred and I've come from quite a traumatic illness.

“The media tells us we should look like this, be this size, and I'm certainly not all that.

“I want people to know you don't have to have the perfect skin, hair or size to be here – I'm trying to break the mould a bit!

“Just from being in drama, I see so many people judging themselves so harshly. I know people with eating disorders who are so stressed about how they look.

“I'm trying to get more support and raise awareness that if you believe in yourself, in what you want, and what you do, it doesn't matter.”

Since the surgery to remove the tumour, Yvonne's had another 19 operations to reduce the scarring for health reasons, and faces more in the future.

She said: “I want to raise awareness of this rare disease and I thought, somebody might look at my scars and ask me about it. I can use this platform as a soapbox for the disease.

“I've been through the wars but it doesn't make me any less of a person.

“If I can make it to the quarter-finals, I'll be happy, and if I can help inspire even one person I'll have done my job.”

Voting closes on April 28. To vote for Yvonne, log on www.pinupuk.com/girls/lady-phoenix/