Claire is sizing up rivals in contest

Forget The Apprentice - one Black Country businesswoman has outperformed hundreds of entrepreneurs to get to the regional final of a top competition.

Claire Priest, who runs a fashion business for women with curvy figures, is through to the Midlands Regional Finals of the 2008 HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards.

The 36-year-old from Kingswinford, who started Blessd last year, is now hoping to scoop the top title and a cheque for £50,000, courtesy of HSBC.

The national contest, now in its eighth year, is designed to seek out the most promising start-up businesses in the UK.

Women come in all shapes and sizes but the fashion industry tries to squeeze them all into standard measurements.

For someone like Claire, who is lucky enough to be slim but with a naturally curvy figure, finding the right fit was a nightmare.

She decided the best way to solve the problem was to produce her own range of clothes and an alternative set of standard sizes designed for women who currently wear a UK size 8 to 16 but are blessed with a larger than average bust or hip size.

Based in Cradley, Blessd launched its first fashion range last year and sells a selection of business, casual and evening wear, swimwear, lingerie and accessories.

Blessd is one of 20 companies to secure a place in the Midlands Regional Finals. The entry will now be considered by a panel of business experts who will select the top 10 start-up companies in the Midlands to go to the national judging.

This year there are six heats. The top 10 winners will be invited to London to convince the national judging panel why they should be named Start-Up Star 2008. The overall winner will be revealed at London's Dorchester Hotel on October 29.

By Women's Editor Maria Cusine