Christine Adams's face has been transformed by a surgeon's knife after winning a glossy magazine competition.

The 55-year-old, jokingly nicknamed Skeletor after the 1980s cartoon character, first appeared in the Mail last October to drum up support after she entered the Full House! magazine competition.

In November, she was shortlisted for the contest and shortly afterwards discovered she had won the surgery, which included a facelift, an upper and lower eyelift and breast implants.

In March, she jetted off to Prague for the operation and now, after making a full recovery and having her new look captured at a glamourous London photo-shoot, has unveiled her new look.

She said: "I gasped when I finally plucked up the courage to look in the mirror at the new me.

"Now I know my horrible days of being called Skeletor are truly behind me."

The mother-of-five, who lives on the Headland, Hartlepool, told how she initially felt nervous about her trip to the Czech Republic's capital.

"I felt really nervous when I got off the plane in Prague, but, as soon as I got to meet the surgeons at the clinic, I felt so much better.

"When I awoke after the surgery, I felt tender and exhausted.

"I'd been warned to expect heavy bruising, but it was still a shock.

"My face was swollen, and it was covered in deep purple bruises. But I knew they'd go and it would be worth it," she said.

Christine had to spend time recovering under medical observation before returning to Hartlepool, where she says friends and family were astonished by the results.

"My friend Lavinia said I look so much better already," said Christine.
"She said it has taken years and years off me."

Christine, who previously told how the tragedy of losing her husband Brian 13 years ago had left tell-tale signs on her face, will be celebrating her new look with daughters Tracy, 34, Dawn, 31, Gail, 30, Leanne, 23, and Lynn, 22.

"I'm planning to enjoy a night on the town with my daughters. Maybe now people will mistake me for one of their sisters instead of their mum," she joked.

"I had never thought for a second that I'd win. I'd like to thank everyone who voted for me for helping my dream come true."

The story of Christine's makeover appears in the latest issue of Full House! magazine which is on sale from today.