A MODEL who has battled depression recruited 11 Facebook friends to feature alongside her in a nude calendar that stresses the importance of a healthy mind.

Milly Evans, 25, who came runner up in this year’s Miss St Helens Star competition, hopes to help dispel the stigma surrounding mental illness.

The professional model and hairdresser has fought her own battles with illness.

She was repeatedly sick of people saying: “How can you be depressed with the way you look and your life?”

Milly, of Marshalls Cross, said: “I wanted to show that it doesn’t matter what you look like or who you are, anyone can go through mental illness.

“I suffered from depression last year and it was only this year that I got over it.

“I wanted to show that it isn’t something to be ashamed of. People need to talk about it.

“Mind helps a lot of people. At the doctors you have to make appointments and wait, but Mind were very supportive.”

Milly said she recruited the other models through Facebook, all who have had mental health issues.

“I didn’t know everyone who took part but they were great and really helped me out. There were loads of volunteers but in the end I could only pick 11.”

l You can order a calendar via Facebook at Beauty is a State of Mind. All proceeds will go to mental health charity MIND.