IT’S easy to judge women on their appearance, but what really counts is what lies beneath, right? If only.

Who could forget the heartbreaking sight of Rebecca Adlington crying in the I’m A Celebrity jungle over her own body-image issues – proof enough of just how topsy-turvy expectations of women have become.

You would think that being one of Britain’s most decorated Olympians (four medals to her name) as well as being made an OBE, would be enough to boost Becky’s confidence.

But unkind comments about her appearance as well as the presence of bikini-clad jungle mate Amy Willerton (claim to fame: won some beauty pageant), left her in tears before the nation.

So, this year, my roll call of honour highlights women, both home and away, who have done their bit to address this problem.

Four young women from York share top billing for 2013.

Take a bow, Joseph Rowntree School pupils Molly Horner, Lucy Freer, Megan Guest and Alison Coates, who have been spearheading a body confidence campaign for teens and calling for a ban on airbrushing and using stick-thin models in advertising.

Not only have they launched a blog, appeared on BBC’s Women’s Hour and won a top gong in The Press’s Community Pride awards, they helped stage York’s first Body Confidence Day.

Here, 40 young girls from the city took part in a special event at the Coppergate Shopping Centre, where they learned about fashion for different body shapes as well as beauty and career advice.

Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson also deserves recognition for fighting on this front.

She co-founded the national Campaign for Body Confidence (campaignforbodyconfidence.org.uk) and brought the issue to the heart of government, chairing the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Body Image.

Achievements to date include a free teaching pack aimed at primary-aged children looking at how body images in the media and advertising are altered as well as encouraging student designers to make clothes for a diverse range of body shapes.

Across the pond in LA, Hollywood star and this year’s best actress Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence has punched a fist in the air against size-ism too – by speaking out about the pressure to be thin.

Jennifer, who won an Academy Award for her portrayal as a dancer in Silver Linings Playbook, is fed up being described as having a “fuller figure”. She told Elle magazine that: “in Hollywood, I’m obese. I’m considered a fat actress” and more recently said it should be illegal to call someone fat on TV.

She said: “The media needs to take responsibility for the effect that it has on our younger generation, on these girls who are watching these television shows, and picking up how to talk and how to be cool… if we’re regulating cigarettes and sex and cuss words, because of the effect they have on our younger generation, why aren’t we regulating things like calling people fat?”

Back in Blighty, our own Kate Middleton struck a defiant note for reality too when she appeared on the steps of St Mary’s Hospital hours after giving birth, clearly displaying a round tummy. She earned much praise for being bold enough to show off her post-partum bump.

Brave?! A new mum with a tum is the norm. This, as much as anything, proves yet again just how ga-ga the world has gone over women and their bodies.

But just as Kate was making strides in providing a sane role model for new mothers, Scandinavian WAG Caroline Berg Eriksen went and spoilt it all.

The health and fitness blogger uploaded a selfie on Instagram in which she was wearing skimpy bra and briefs and displaying a flat-as-an-iron tummy – just four days after giving birth.

She should be made to eat a box of chocolate Hobnobs as punishment.

The X Factor winner Sam Bailey was another welcome example of reality triumphing over celebrity silliness.

Dubbed ‘Screwbo’ by the Red Tops on account of her day job as a prison officer, Sam, a 36-year-old mum of two, was the eldest and the least glamorous contestant in the final stages of the competition. But she had the best voice. By a mile. A deserved winner, indeed.

Another episode of sheer talent winning out unfolded at Wimbledon this year when the rather eccentric, if endearing, French player Marion Bartoli won the ladies single’s title.

During the build-up to the final, BBC commentator John Inverdale provoked the wrath of women (and man) kind by commenting that Bartoli “was never going to be a looker”.

But Marion had the last laugh, by winning her sport’s most prestigious prize (and a £1.6 million payday) then promptly announcing her retirement.

When later asked about the comment, she proved to be as adept at diplomacy as her distictive double-handed groundstrokes.

She said: “It doesn’t matter, honestly. I am not blonde, yes. That is a fact.

“Have I dreamt about having a model contract? No. I’m sorry. But have I dreamed about winning Wimbledon? Absolutely, yes.”

Heroines, one and all.