A plus-sized singer is hoping to take the pop charts by storm and prove that bigger can be better when her new single is released today (Monday).

Stacey-Lee Cuddy, of Long Lane in Gamlingay, was picked from more than 500 hopefuls to become part of new girl band Plus – created to challenge the music industry's preference for waif-like performers.

While chart-topping singers have praised the virtues of big girls, and the average size of British women is 16, performers over size 12 struggle to make it into the big time.

Stacey-Lee, 23, has first hand experience of the difficulties they face having lost out on the opportunity to join a girl band at just 15 years old because she was 'chubby'.

The professional singer, who has used her voice to make a living since she was just 17, says she is delighted to be part of the project, after rescheduling her holiday to take part in the final round of auditions.

She told the Chronicle: "I'd already booked a holiday for that weekend, which was a surprise birthday present for my boyfriend's birthday. I cancelled my holiday just on the off-chance, I thought 'it's a once in a lifetime chance'."

Her gamble paid off and she was picked by a panel of judges including soul legend Ruby Turner, Darren Bazzoni, who has produced for the Sugababes, business mogul and journalist Barbara Campbell, fashion designer Tracey Carr, Bay City Rollers publicist Kizzi Nkwocha and Big Girls Paradise director Linda Koch.

Stacey-Lee added: "I really didn't think I was going to get in, I'd just ruled it out because there were so many girls there with really lovely voices.

"I was really surprised but so chuffed, especially with it being something that I think is really good.

"At the moment there's all this going on about size zero and all these fad diets. I think it's really nice to have real women out there who've got talent, it's something I really believe in."

Spokesman Kizzi Nkwocha, said: "The average woman in Britain is a size 16 yet the music industry is obsessed with the idea that a singer has to be a stick insect in order to be marketable.

"We think that's wrong, most of the people in this country think that's wrong and, after Big Fun hits number one, the music industry will have to admit they're wrong. "

Big Fun – a cover of an '80s chart hit – will be available for download via online music stores such as i-Tunes and Napster from Monday, April 28.