A young nurse left badly burnt when a pub heater exploded has made a miraculous transformation and recovery - after taking up bodybuilding. Ashleigh Charlesworth, 29, suffered severe burns to her face, hands and chest and was put on a ventilator in hospital where she spent weeks being treated. After leaving hospital Ashleigh vowed to pursue her dream of becoming a bodybuilder which she says has boosted her confidence aswell as her muscles. Earlier this month she entered her first body building competition even wearing a 'girl on fire' themed bikini to celebrate her miraculous transformation. Ashleigh from Sudbury in Suffolk said: "Taking part in the show has definitely given me more confidence in myself and my capabilities. "I felt nervous and scared but I am extremely proud of myself "My bikini was inspired by the 'girl on fire' vibe and that's why it went from red into orange. "I wanted to encompass it within the show as it's a part of me." Ashleigh and her cousin April Charlesworth were celebrating April's 28th birthday when a pub heater exploded in a beer garden in Great Cornard, Suffolk, on April 24, 2021. They were both hospitalised when someone threw alcohol onto the pub heater causing a huge fireball. Both went through intense rehabilitation to treat their facial scarring. Ashleigh said she was initially self-conscious of her injuries but returned to the gym five weeks later and is now comfortable with her scars. She said: "I'm more appreciative of my skin and I'm not afraid to show off my scars. "Now people who look at me and I'll be like 'yeah, I've got a scar, do you want to talk about it?'' She dreamed of competing before the fire and since then has been able to make that dream a reality. She contacted the bodybuilding organisation Physical Culture Association, tanning and makeup professionals before the competition in Hull, Yorkshire, this November to let them know about her scars. She said: "I wanted to make them aware I had burns so they weren't shocked when they saw me. "They were so good at reassuring me and calming me down and the make-up artist did such an amazing job. "I was concerned that other competitors would judge me or look at me funny, but what I realised was that it was my own insecurities. "The girls that knew about the burns were so reassuring to me and helped me right up until stepping on that stage and I feel privileged to have come away with some new friends in the competing world." Ashleigh is now unable to work as a nurse due to her hand injuries so works for the NHS 111 service. In an Instagram post, Ashleigh wrote: "Getting on that stage was a massive thing for me to do. "After the fire and everything I’ve been through it was important for me to stick to something and give it 1000% and I did that. "Did I let it stop me? No. Did I have a cry? Yes. Did I continue? HELL YES! I’m proud of myself and how far I’ve come."