Most people freak out when they book a holiday - they expect to lose 14st and morph into Elle Macpherson/Daniel Craig two weeks before they get there. In reality, that's never going to happen. You've slaved away for 11 months for this break, so promise yourself you won't waste it by being completely neurotic about your figure. A relaxed person who is confident about their body will always appear sexy, whatever their size.

Still, there are ways in which you can make yourself feel more comfortable. A few weeks before you go, start using a daily moisturiser that contains light tanning agents to make you look less conspicuous during those first few days. But the most important thing to do is to try on everything you are going to take with you before you go. So many people, especially women, bury their head in the sand about the fact that their body might have changed since last year and are horrified when they realise nothing suits them any more. Being confident on the beach is all about knowing exactly how you are going to look and being OK with it.

So buy swimwear that suits your shape. It's all about balancing your proportions. Pear shapes are bottom-heavy and suit halterneck tops with bikini rather than tie-string briefs - the ties just draw attention to your widest part. They do suit boyish and top-heavy shapes though, and anyone above a B-cup should invest in underwired swimwear to give them more support. Apple shapes usually lack a waist and should opt for a full swimming costume, perhaps with ruching detail to create the illusion of curves. Men should go down the surf route and go for board shorts. Long gone are the days when Speedos were acceptable.

Interview by Catherine Rapley