Before modelling, I would never have gone to a nudist beach

It’s completely changed my attitude to nudity. I wasn’t a naked person before, but now I find it liberating. It’s normal to be nude: what’s weird is the fact that we only ever see women’s nudity in a sexual context. Life modelling helps remove the idea that the fewer clothes I’m wearing, the more provocative I’m being.

I’ll change into a robe before class starts

Sessions usually begin at 7pm, with up to 30 people arranged in a circle or U-shape around me. After I walk in and take my robe off, I’m told how long a pose should be – between two minutes and one and a half hours, depending on the class. The longest pose was three hours for a sculpture class, resting on my wrist. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I got through it with determination and Deep Heat. You can never be completely still, but I try to limit my movements (aside from the odd stretch break) to make it easier to draw me.

It’s fun to see how other people see me

Lots of people get into life modelling because they don’t have a good relationship with their body, and I can understand how seeing yourself reflected in these beautiful artworks could help heal that. I’ve got a little shrine to myself in my house – sketches, sculptures and embroideries that people have given to me after classes. I do have a good relationship with my body, but it’s still so nice to see myself through other people’s eyes.

After work, I’ll get the train home

Then I’ll make dinner – I love pasta – and check Instagram. My account (@fatmeglifemodel) usually gets tagged in lots of posts after a class, so I’ll make sure I reshare anything I need to. Before bed, I’ll watch TV (right now, my partner and I are loving The Last Of Us) and will be asleep by 11pm.

My plan B: gallery assistant

Ever wondered what it’s like to be a life model?