Beauty queen to become a husband

Rico is a mother of four, but is preparing to be a groom

A former beauty contestant and mother-of-four has written a book about becoming a man.

After four years of treatment, former Miss Shropshire finalist Helen Thompson is now Rico Paris, a name inspired by Barry Manilow's song Copacabana.

Married twice as a bride, he is now engaged and is due to marry his girlfriend in the summer.

Mr Paris said he was once "not bad looking" as a woman but is now "a short fat, balding middle-aged chap".

When he was a woman living in Much Wenlock, he worked as a model and a secretary and was also a Miss Butlins entrant, but constantly changed appearance.

Mr Paris, who lives in Telford, said: "As a female, I was very feminine and attractive."

He used to be Helen Thompson

Of his current appearance, he said: "I am just a short fat, balding middle-aged chap."

He tells his story in a new book, but his family and former partners are not named. His children now call their mother Rick.

Mr Paris now works as a psychotherapist at a charity in Shropshire advising people who change sex.

Looking back at pictures of his treatment, he said: " At the time I felt like Adonis - looking back, I did not look one thing or the other.

"What I see in the mirror (now) is who I am inside and I am at peace with myself - the final piece of the jigsaw."