Nigella gets women's vote

Her shapely curves and devil-may-care attitude have won her an army of male fans.

Now it seems that Nigella Lawson is admired by women as much as men.

A new survey shows almost half of British women see the celebrity chef as a role model in terms of her attitude to her health - and they believe she is right not to let weight worries get in the way of enjoying herself.

Only three per cent see elfin yo-yo dieter Geri Halliwell as a better example, with many preferring Titanic star Kate Winslet, who only diets for film roles.

The survey was carried out by women's magazine Prima, and quizzed 1,000 women about their health.

The results revealed that a quarter follow a special diet, but the vast majority - 78 per cent - said they did not believe in faddy diets. Just over half agreed that eating sensibly is a better option than dieting.

Asked which actress or celebrity most epitomised a healthy image in their eyes, a total of 47 per cent named Welsh star Catherine Zeta Jones.

Most respondents were in their late forties, when breast cancer commonly strikes, and Prima editor Maire Fahey advised against complacency. "Regular breast and smear tests are vital," she said, "as is a healthy diet and some exercise."