A first-time mum who piled on three stone during pregnancy has revealed her delight at winning first place in a fitness modelling competition - less than 12 months after giving birth.

Fitness fanatic Ingrida Radevic, 30, from London, struggled to exercise after unexpectedly falling pregnant in 2014 and saw her weight plummet to 13 stone.

But when her daughter Aria was just four months old, she began hitting the gym, dropped 4 stone, and has now scooped the top prize in her category at a national fitness competition - as Amateur Diva Fitness Model at the World Beauty Fitness & Fashion competition (WBFF).

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'It’s like a dream come true': First-time mum Ingrida Radevic, from London, has just been crowned as Amateur Diva Fitness Model at the World Beauty Fitness & Fashion competition (WBFF)

Last month, Ingrida took to Instagram to show off the results of her clean eating and exercise regime (pictured at eight months pregnant in June 2015, left, and now, right). Her photo notched up thousands of likes

'It’s like a dream come true,' said Ingrida, who hired both a fitness and a posing coach to help her get back into shape. 'The support I’ve received has been phenomenal. So many new and expectant mums have been getting in contact saying my achievement is inspiration to them.'

Last month, Ingrida, who works out religiously five times a week, shot to social media fame after flaunting her toned tummy on Instagram just months after giving birth.

She shared a before and after shot of her torso, showing her at eight months pregnant compared to how she looks now - and was overwhelmed by the response she received.

'I don’t have many followers on Instagram, so when I got thousands of likes (I thought), what is going on,' she said. 'One girl was saying how inspirational I was. It gave me even more motivation.'

Despite 'a few' negative comments - with some suggesting she must be on steroids - Ingrida has chosen to ignore the trolls and insists she is the healthiest she's ever been.

Ingrida on stage after scooping her prize. 'The support I’ve received has been phenomenal,' she said. 'So many new and expectant mums have been getting in contact saying my achievement is inspiration to them'

Ingrida picks up her trophy at last weekend's WBFF show. It comes after seven months of gruelling exercise

The mother-of-one hopes her win will serve as an inspiration to other mums struggling to get back into shape

'It proves that no matter where you are in life, no matter how many obstacles sand before you, all it takes is the right level of determination to achieve amazing results,' she said. 'It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.'

Yet although she has always kept fit, Ingrida says her dreams of competing were initially put on hold when she found out she was pregnant in 2014.

'I had signed up with a fitness coach, and two days before I was due to start my training, I found out I was pregnant,' she recalled. 'It was exciting but also disappointing.'

Throughout her pregnancy Ingrid, who is engaged to Piers Hanson, 32, put on 3 stone 8 lbs despite visiting the gym twice a week.

Proud moment: Ingrida poses backstage with her daughter Aria, who will turn one next month

In great shape: But throughout her pregnancy Ingrid, who is engaged to Piers Hanson, 32, put on 3 stone 8 lbs despite visiting the gym twice a week. She eventually hired a fitness coach to help her get back into shape

'I tried to get fit during my pregnancy but didn't manage it,' says Ingrida, who was exhausted from working night shifts in the factory at the time.

'I put on my weight because my nutritional plan wasn’t balanced, I used to eat a lot of snacks.'

When Aria was born in July 2015, Ingrida didn't want to leave it too long before getting back into shape. 'It’s really important for new mums to keep active,' she said. 'And also to have a life outside of being a new parent.

'I found keeping fit the best therapy after a stressful day, additionally with being active I’m a good role model to my little girl too.'

Since November, Ingrida has been working out five to six times a week and following a strict eating plan, eating porridge for breakfast in the morning, chicken, beef, and cottage cheese - and losing a staggering 4 stone

Ingrid (on stage at the WBFF show) says more mums should take up exercise. 'Keeping fit, being active and having an end goal is very therapeutic and has huge benefits for mother and baby,' she explained

Since November, Ingrida has been working out five to six times a week and following a strict eating plan, eating porridge for breakfast in the morning, lots of chicken, beef, and cottage cheese - and slimming down from 13 stone to 8 stone 13 lbs.

'When I started exercising six times a week in the gym, I thought, Oh my God why did I start all this,' she admitted. 'It was really tough, but I got into a routine, I had a goal.'

Ingrida now says her win proves that being fit and health after having a baby is 'not only achievable but also has huge mental and physical benefits.'

When Aria was born in July 2015, Ingrida didn't want to leave it too long before getting back into shape. 'It’s really important for new mums to keep active,' she said. 'And also to have a life outside of being a new parent'

Ingrida with her ten-month-old daughter Aria. She said that falling pregnant in 2014 meant putting her training plans on hold, but shortly afterwards she was back in the gym six times a week to get back into shape

Ingrida insists that far from being stressful, hitting the gym has kept her sane. 'I found keeping fit the best therapy after a stressful day, additionally with being active I’m a good role model to my little girl too,' she said

'I’m certainly not suggesting that every new mum out there should enter a fitness competition,' she said. 'But keeping fit, being active and having an end goal is very therapeutic and has huge benefits for mother and baby.

'The months of preparation and hard work paid off! Collaborating with Tom Brazier, my physique coach, we worked to a great diet plan and training schedule, and amazingly managed to transform my body completely in just seven months.

'Looking at the photos from the event my physique was the strongest on stage, I was really impressed with the way I looked.'