New Miss Great Britain and would-be MP Gemma Garrett had to reluctantly forgo the calorific treats on offer from waiting staff at a pre-concert VIP reception as she is on a strict diet.

“It’s no fun staying away from the canape tray,” sighed Gemma, 26, who was among the guests at the star-studded RD Crusaders charity concert at London’s ExCel Centre and a party held there by OK! magazine.

“But that’s the bit of modelling no one ever sees.

“I laugh when I see models in fashion pages, apparently gorging themselves on cakes and ice-creams, because it’s just not realistic,” added Gemma, who hopes to become an MP by standing against David Davis in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election, as part of the Beauties For Britain (BFB) party.

But the Belfast-born model admitted that returning to Northern Ireland this week could be a big fat problem for her figure.

“My big sister Lisa is getting baptised and Mum is going to lay on a very big spread for all the friends and family,” she wailed.

“I just hope there’s a salad option.”