Miss pageant magazine

ageant P Miss

Issue 1

THE UK’S FIRST PAGEANT MAGAZINE

January 2016 £3.99

MY FIGHT FOR GLOBAL HEALTH

SISTERS WITH

One girl’s quest to tackle global

SASS Sisters winning on the

runway, and in business

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AROUND THE WORLD IN

healthcare inequalities

hello

say to your very own

fairy godmother

Amy Barker; pageant

princess to savvy entrepeneur

BEAUTY PAGEANTS A peek at nine pageants accross the globe

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I am so pleased that the UK is at last getting a pageant magazine

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- I’ve only waited 40 years for this!

Sally-Ann Fawcett Author of Misdemeanors: Beauty Queen Scandals

MISS PAGEANT 2016

Editor’s Letter

Welcome to Miss Pageant’s first bi-monthly issue. It’s bursting with features from many winners and competitors from the UK pageant scene. The team has recognised more and more of you are taking part in pageants all over the UK and thought it was about time you had your own magazine. Among our decorated and celebrated pageant queens we have an array of style intel and fashion tips you can incorporate into your own personal pageant look. We thought we would kick off this issue by sharing the perspective of judges sitting on pageant panels while delving into the real lives of the girls representing our home towns regionally and nationally. We want to showcase the style and class of pageantry whilst sharing the personality and creativity of the Miss Pageant team.

Meet the team...

I’m Natasha Pilling and I am from a small town called Widnes just outside of Liverpool.

I am the editor of Miss Pageant and a devotee of high street fashion, make-up blogs and tutorials. I love glitz and glamour and always look forward to getting dressed up for a special occasion. I have high energy which helps me as a journalist and for this issue I have some great features including a behind the scenes look at why national winners become beauty queens and some tips and tricks from judges in the industry.

Enjoy the issue!

Hey! I’m Mollie Hammond from the West Midlands, and I’m the sub-editor here at Miss Pageant. I’ve got a background in make-up artistry and I’m a loyal fashion follower with a keen interest in the industry as a whole. I’ll be looking to marry my previous experience with the world of pageantry, helping to create fun, engaging features and copy for our readers to enjoy. In this issue I’ll be exploring Girls and Gowns, looking at dresses that hold significance to current holders of ‘Miss’ regional titles. In another piece, I took a trip to a top boutique in Bradford, where girls travel far and wide just to get their hands on the beautiful collection of pageant dresses.

Hey guys, I’m Amy Wilkinson. I’m feature editor here at Miss Pageant, I’m 21, and come from a town just outside of Liverpool. I’ve never entered any pageants myself, but I absolutely love the glamour, beauty, and elegance of it all. With a couple of friends having become a part of the industry I have a keen interest in taking part myself – just not on the catwalk! In our first issue, I’ll be talking exclusively to two pageant sisters who are not only rocking it on the runway, but in the business world too. With advice from some of the industry’s best fashion guru’s, I’ll also be looking into the different style of dress available to girls from high street to designer.

Hello! I’m Sophie Burgess, Miss Pageant’s Creative Director, and I’m from the cold and wet (but beautiful) Lake District. Currently living in Leeds, I’m a budding writer with a keen interest in travel, music, animals, charity, and all things fun. In a quest to bring to light the good work pageant girs do, I have focused one of this month’s features on the charitable accomplishments that pageant queens and hopefuls have taken part in, along with a round the world peek at regional and national pageants, and a chat with Sally-Ann Fawcett, author of Misdemeanors: Beauty Queen Scandals. I hope you enjoy the first issue of our brand new magazine!

ontents C On the cover...

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Around the world in nine beauty pageants

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Sisters with sass

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Say hello to your very own fairy god mother

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My fight for global health

News & features

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10

25

Fashion

The ever changing pageant industry... looking back with Sally-Ann Fawcett

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Girls & Gowns

Beauty in the interview room; a judges perspective

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What makes a girl a queen?

Sweet Charity

Cover Girls;

Charlotte & Stephanie Hodson; photograph by John Cox, reproduced by kind permission of Cheshire Life

Illustrations by Maddie Smith MISS PAGEANT 2016

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&

Girls

Gowns

For a pageant girl, the dresses they wear are kind of a big deal. They represent a girls style, character and individuality. Miss Pageant spoke to three current holders of ‘Miss’ regional titles about the gowns that have been the most significanct to them over their pageant journeys and what advice they would give to any girls

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trying to find that winning dress.

Laura Keetley Miss Derby 2015

In my first international pageant I was one of the girls chosen to represent Miss England in the Miss Asia Pacific World beauty pageant and went for a plain, safe dress I felt comfortable in.

I wasn’t as confident in myself when I first started out in the industry, I had a lot of insecurities and never felt good enough. When I was growing up I had always dreamed of being a singer, but when the bullying started at school I shied away from my goals and aspirations.

When I was 16 I met a girl who was really into pageants and she told me all about her experiences.

I think most people have a preconceived idea as to what pageantry is all about, myself included. Hearing stories about the industry made me think that perhaps it would be a great way to build my confidence and act as a platform to help others in a similar position.

As my confidence has grown I’m not afraid to go for that ‘wow’ dress that every girl has dreamed of.

The moment I was crowned Miss Derby 2015 I wore a stunning red Mac Duggal dress that I absolutely love - winning in it felt amazing! I searched everywhere for something that I really liked, I wanted something that complimented my figure but also had just the right amount of glitz.

Some pageant girls spend thousands on a dress which is fine if you

By Mollie Hammond

can afford to but I really don’t think it’s a necessity. You can make your own adjustments or have a fairly plain dress and accessorize. It’s all about being individual and feeling absolutely amazing in whatever you wear, that’s ultimately what makes you stand out.

Some girls make the mistake in thinking if you have a really expensive, amazing dress that you will have more of a chance of winning the evening wear round. This really isn’t the case and although they are looking at the dress and how you look wearing it, the marking is on your elegance and poise and how you carry yourself.

My advice to any girl searching for their perfect pageant dress would be to do your research into pageantry fashions. Don’t wear something from two seasons ago but also don’t go for the same dress you’ve seen other girls in multiple times - the chances are the judges have already seen it 100 times too!

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Hazel Latner Miss Leeds 2015

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Before entering Miss Leeds at the age of 24, the pageant industry was something I wasn’t really familiar with.

Unlike a lot of girls who start at a younger age, I was a year from the cut-off point of 25 and thought,‘Hazel, it’s now or never. This is a once in a lifetime experience.’ I sent off my application and never even entertained the thought of winning, but it turned out to be the best thing I’ve ever done. When I competed in Miss England I wore a dress from Sparkles Boutique which was one of the prizes of winning Miss Leeds. They closed the shop just for me and let me try on as many dresses I

wanted - it was like a dream and something I’ll never forget.

I ended up trying on so many dresses which were all so beautiful but it was only when I put on a long, cream, strapless Jovani dress covered in embellishments that I knew I’d found ‘the one’.

It fit perfectly and made me feel amazing.

I felt so grateful and exceptionally lucky that I was able to wear it as I would never have been able to afford it otherwise. I’m not from a really wealthy background so I would never have been able to spend that much money on a dress.

I would honestly say to girls on the lookout for that ‘wow’ dress, it really isn’t about how much you spend. When I was crowned ‘Miss Leeds 2015’ I was wearing an £80 dress from Lipsy and I felt beautiful in it.

It’s all about feeling confident in what you’re wearing which will make you stand out on the runway, whether that be an expensive designer dress or a high street steal. There’s a dress for every budget.

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There’s a dress for every budget.

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From top left clockwise: Hazel wearing her crown; in her £80 Lipsy dress; in her Sparkles Boutique dress; posing after being crowned Miss Leeds 2015

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Jodi Eyre Miss Manchester 2015

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Ever heard the phrase ‘when you know, you know’? Well that’s how I felt about my first pageant dress. It was a long, nude, open backed Pia Michi gown and it might sound cliché but when I tried it on I just fell in love and felt like a princess.

I wanted something simple yet sophisticated and I knew this was the dress I had to wear for Miss Manchester, the first pageant I’d ever taken part in. I decided to apply spontaneously after I’d seen an advert online and thought why not give it a go? Growing up I’d struggled with my confidence and thought this would give me the boost I needed. I’m so glad that I went for it.

Pictures top right clockwise: Jodie wearing her Miss Manchester crown; posing in her Sherri Hill dress; in her Pia Michi gown.

Winning Miss Manchester was one of those experiences you never forget and I’ve grown so much as a person since then. I went on to compete in Miss England and ‘Dress 2 Party’ in Cheshire let me borrow a beautiful Sherri Hill dress that would have been £550 to buy. It had a sheer front panel and white, lace detailing all down the front. It was a fish tail dress and hugged my figure in all the right places.

My advice to other girls looking for the perfect pageant dress would be not to follow the trends and to try and find something that you feel amazing in.

You need to find a dress which compliments your skin tone and your figure.

A dress that makes you feel beautiful will give you the confidence you need on stage and that confidence is what the judges are looking for.

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I felt like a princess

MISS PAGEANT 2016

the ever changing pageant industry... looking back with

Sally-Anne aged 19 being crowned Miss Scarborough 1986

Sally A nn Fawcett Over the many years that have passed since the first beauty pageant in 1839, pageants have adapted to cultural change and now, the whole industry is rather different to it’s beauty focused roots.

Sally-Ann Fawcett grew up in the 70’s when beauty pageants were at the height of popularity. After taking second runner up in three pageants and finally taking the crown as Scarborough Carnival Queen in 1987, she has recently shifted over to the judging side of things (Sally-Anne has sat on the panel of 8 pageants since starting in 2014, including Miss Great Britain with Duncan Bannatyne and Danielle Lloyd) and wrote her first book, Missdemeanors: Beauty Queen Scandals in 2014, in which she shares tales of the shocking and untold things that go on behind the scenes of pageantry.

After years of obsession with the industry and the secrets that lurk behind the scenes, Sally-Anne became more fascinated with the background of pageants and is currently writing her second book in which she will look “in depth at the history of pageants, including how global politics affected so many of the contests, those of South Africa in particular.”

We’ve had a chat with Sally-Ann about the changes that she has witnessed over the years since competing in pageants in the late eighties.

“Every week in the ‘70s and ‘80s there was a contest on TV, every day there was a beauty queen in the paper doing something, or caught up in a scandal. The pageants drew vast audiences on TV. Miss World would get over 20 million viewers a year and they were seen as real family highlights.

Sally-Ann describes the ‘70s and ‘80s as an era of beauty queens dressing up as glamour pusses just posing in their swimwear, with little chance to show the judges any personality or character.

Sally-Ann Fawcett knows pageantry like the back of her hand; having had a passion for the industry from a young age and an all round interest in pageantry, Miss Pageant has caught up with Sally-Anne, about how she thinks beauty pageants have evolved and changed over the years.

By Sophie Burgess

In the 1990’s, pageants took a bit of a dip in popularity when British television stopped screening the shows and the press no longer reported on them. “Who, apart from the real fans, can name a Miss UK from the 1990s?” she asks. “The feminist movement had seemingly won, and the BBC and ITV were too scared to do anything but comply.”

Sally-Ann believes pageants have done incredibly well to reinvent themselves and the internet has played a huge part in their promotion.

As for the changes she has has seen over the years, she says the differences in judges priorities has shifted greatly. Charity work and personality are now key players in what she says is a great movement away from judges only taking physical appearance into consideration.

“The big changes for me as a judge are the emphasis on charity work for each contestant, the importance of the interview (50% of the marks in some pageants) and the feeling that pageants now empower, rather than demean, women. They no longer enter to find a rich husband or get into the movies, but a chance to gain confidence and revel in being female.”

“Despite the welcomed changes in pageantry, there is still little interest from the press and media, and many 'normal' people have no idea these contest still run. The pageant community now is almost an exclusive club, though we all fervently hope that they will one-day return to mainstream TV.” Miss Universe contestants 1930

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Beauty in the interview room;

A Judges Perspective Pageant judges share tips and tricks of winning in this industry.

By Natasha Pilling As a pageant competitor you are sometimes left wondering what the judges are truly thinking and how they choose the winners. Well, here Natasha Pilling reveals how this year’s judging panel picked Miss Great Britain 2015/16.

Sally-Ann Fawcett

Sally-Ann Fawcett, author of top selling beauty pageant book ‘Misdemeanours - Beauty Queen Scandals’ said that she always wanted to judge a pageant, having competed herself in the ‘80s and written a book about beauty queens, she was thrilled to be asked to judge two Miss Great Britain finals including Miss International UK and the Galaxy Pageants.

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“I underestimated what a difficult task it would be. There has been an average of 60 finalists in each of the pageants that I have judged. This year, there were very good contestants on one hand, and those who weren’t quite ready on the other.

The hardest part was distinguishing between those who fall somewhere between the two while keeping in mind the girl I think represents the best. I always aim to be very fair and honest in my judging and I am not afraid to mark very high or very low where needed, but it’s true to say that just one point can make a difference between girls making the Top 10 and not making the Top 10, so it’s a big responsibility. Personally, I look for energy, poise and elegance in contestants on stage. I don’t like to see anyone who walks in an over the top manner, nor those who flick their swimwear sarongs around like a mad matador.

Confidence is key, and less is more when it comes to a beautiful, flowing walk with great posture. In interviews and on stage, you must look each judge in the eye in turn as it conveys great warmth. Also, don’t be afraid toad the interview and talk about

the subjects close to your heart. Judges hate awkward silences! But at the same time, don’t gabble.

Try to practice random interview answers out loud whatever you’re doing (though perhaps not in the street!). Be fluent, articulate and eloquent. In the past, I have been surprised by contestants who haven’t prepared properly, and who may have delivered a great interview but let themselves down on stage by bad posture and styling. Conversely, I have been very pleasantly surprised by those who pull out all the stops and wow the judges. I can’t help but become familiar with contestants who have competed before, and the biggest joy for me as judge is to see them blossom and grow year upon year. To any contestant who asks my advice, I say the same; be confident, be natural, and be yourself, but with a pinch of added pizzazz. Practice your walk, practice your interview skills and don’t be afraid to ask for opinions on your choice of gown or swimwear.

Enter pageants for the fantastic life skills they equip you with, and don’t be downhearted if you lose.

Your time will come if you persist so in the meantime, just enjoy such a unique and special event.”

Jenny Cross

Jenny Cross, Company Director at Niche Magazine and Achieve Magazine and owner of Cross Productions has been a judge for the first time this year at Miss Great Britain and emphasises how surprised she was at the diversity of the girls.

“I found that being a pageant judge is really good fun. The other judges I worked with all have a wealth of knowledge in the industry and are great to work alongside. I’d say personality, ethos and of course being well presented and likeable is key to getting the judges on your side. I was surprised at the diversity of the girls. They all came from so many different backgrounds and lifestyles like mothers, students and professionals competed. It was really good to see how different the girls are to how they would usually be stereotyped. My last words of advice are to be confident and strong. Everyone has an opinion and an opinion is what it is. Don’t let it change you let it help shape you.”

Kevin Sandland Kevin Sandland, serial pageant judge and pageant enthusiast tells us how judges want their winner to be confident, graceful, and intelligent. He says it is important to be beautiful inside as well as out and have that special ‘Inner Sparkle’.

“Judging a beauty pageant is quite subjective. There is no exact science, but there are some vague guidelines judges may follow that are generally unique to each pageant depending on the different criteria the contestants must meet. Normally, contestants are judged in Personal Interview, Fun/Fashion Wear, Fitness/Swim Wear and Evening Wear. Please be aware that judges here in the UK may look for slightly different qualities when judging pageants where the winner is to act as an ambassador for that particular pageant in their own country or the UK. As opposed to pageants when the winner is expected to go on and represent their country in an international/world pageant somewhere else in the World.”

James Conaghan James Conaghan, General Manager of Mercure Leicester and Leeds Carnegie boy in the early 90s enjoyed judging this year.

“Like any pageant contest, beauty it is in the eye of the beholder and each judge will have a different view on what they are looking for. Judging came easy to me and was made even easier by the organising team at Miss Great Britain. I was accompanied by a few experienced judges on the panel which made me more relaxed, but I personally looked for natural beauty and natural personality. The effortlessness of some the girls stood out significantly and I was surprised how much creativity and time the contestants had to put into the show. Pageants take up all of the day so showing you’re energetic throughout is commendable, when you have to be up early in the morning and finish late at night. The best advice I could offer the contestants is to be themselves.”

MISS PAGEANT 2016

Around the world in NINE BEAUTY

PAGEANTS Wherever in the world you may find yourself, you’ll find both regional and national pageants putting young role models in the spotlight. Sophie Burgess takes us on a trip around the globe in a series of pageants...

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ageantry is almost as international as you can get. Just like the Olympics, almost every country across the planet holds numbers of regional and national pageants that are in place to choose a suitable “Miss” that will represent their nation at international competitions like Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss International and Miss Earth that take

By Sophie Burgess Illustrations by Bridget Buckingham

place every year. Across the world, judges choose the right pageant princess based on various criteria to go on to represent their nation. In each issue of Miss Pageant, we’re going to take a small trip around the world in the form of pageants. From India to England, Canada to Spain, let’s take our first trip around the world, in nine beauty pageants...

Miss Canada

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nastasia Lin from Toronto, who alongside being a double major in International Relations and Theatre/ Acting, currently holds the crown for Miss World Canada 2015. Lin was barred from entering China to compete in the Miss World Final in November, as she was denied a visa due to her critical views on Chinese religious policy and because she is a follower of the meditative group Falun Gong, which is banned in China. She told the Associated Press in Hong Kong, “If they start to censor beauty pageants how pathetic is that?”

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Miss England

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iss England contestants take part in a traditional catwalk style contest, while they’re also expected to arrange sponsored gifts to be donated to charity, take part in a sports round with Xtreme Bootcamps and can also take part in a Beach beauty shoot. They’re also invited to create an outfit for the Eco Show and show off their aptitudes in the talent round. Miss England also holds a round called Beauty with a Purpose, where contestants are challenged to raise money and awareness for the charity! They say on their website: “You have to be far more than just a pretty face to win the crown”. Natasha Hemmings took the Miss England crown earlier this year, and represented England at the Miss World pageant in China in November.

Miss Pakistan

D

ue to the controversy of beauty pageants in Pakistan, the Miss Pakistan World (formerly Miss Canada Pakistan) contest was held in Canada from its beginnings in 2002 when it was founded by PakistaniCanadian entrepreneur Sonia Ahmed. In 2014, the whole pageant was shifted to New Jersey in The US, where the 12th Miss Pakistan World was crowned.

Winners of Miss Pakistan World are sent to represent the nation at the Miss Earth pageant. Anzhelika Tahir from Punjab is the current Miss Pakistan World title holder.

Miss World Australia

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iss World Australia takes girls from across the country to compete in order to take the representative role at the Miss World competitions.

The annual pageant aims to identify young Australian women who are a symbol of beauty, talent, intelligence and compassion, and their hope is to create role models that will serve as charity ambassadors and will have a positive impact on the perception of beauty and the advancement of women.

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ndia’s pageant queens tend to be actresses and models from the Bollywood scene. Kanishtha Dhankar from Mumbai began her career as an Indian actress and supermodel and was crowned Femina Miss India World in 2011. She then went on to represent India at the Miss World 2011 pageant and was placed in the top 30.

Miss India

Miss USA

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here’s been some real controversy surrounding Miss USA this year, with arguments having happened between between Donald Trump, NBC and WME/IMG. According to Forbes, Trump bought NBC out of their 51% share in the Miss Universe organisation (which operates Miss USA), whom he had previously promised to sue after they cut all ties with the presidential hopeful when he made offensive remarks about Mexican immigrants. Eek, sounds awkward! On a brighter note, though, Miss USA’s headquarters sit comfortably in NYC and it collates pageant queens from various States across the country to compete for the crown.

Olivia Jordan holds the current Miss USA title, as the first woman from Oklahoma to take the crown. Miss USA and Miss Universe 2016 will be broadcast by Fox, so despite the recent controversy, the show must, and will, go on!

Miss Universe Spain

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iss Universe Spain’s origins take us back to 1929, when the pageant took place until the advent of the civil war in 1936, which was followed by the dictatorship of Francisco Franco which didn’t permit beauty pageants until 1961. And how things have changed for Miss Spain since then, as the pageant is creating a lot of awareness and movement for the LGBT community. While Angela Ponce, Spain’s first openly transgender contestant represented Cadiz in the final 10 at the Miss World Spain pageant back in October, former Miss Spain Patricia Yurena, who took the crown in 2008 and 2013, become the first winner of the Spanish pageant to come out as gay, following in the steps of Miss Kentucky, Djuan Trent, who came out earlier this year.

Miss Japan

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iss Universe Japan was created in 1998 in response to Japan’s then-recent lack of finalists at the Miss Universe pageant. This year, Miss Japan 2015 has been receiving criticism on social media as people “don’t believe she’s actually Japanese”, according to BBC News. Unfortunately for Ariana Miyamoto, Japan’s first mixed-race pageant queen, she has received heaps of racial abuse since her win in March earlier this year from people saying, “she doesn’t look Japanese enough”.

Well, Ariana, here at Miss Pageant we think that title is deservedly yours and you should wear that crown with pride!

efore being renamed Miss Italy after a break during World War II, Miss Sorisso (Miss Smile) was the nations first pop at pageantry. Funnily enough, the Miss Smile pageant was sponsored by toothpaste, and contestants were judged on photographs rather than the traditional catwalk contests you see today. Girls from the region of Sicily have taken the most Miss Italia crowns.

This years Miss Italy is Alice Sabitini, a professional basketball player and she’s recently been hitting the headlines for stating, we hope mistakenly, that her favourite and most influential Italian historical figure is Michael Jordan… you know, that Amerian basketball player? Oops, *facepalm*. Fair enough though Miss Italy, he’s an inspirational dude!

Miss Italy 15

By Amy Wilkinson

Meet the sisters who have it all at the moment, not only are they winning on the runway, but in all runs of life too it seems. We managed to get an exclusive glimpse into the glamorous life of this sister act, and hear the goss about pageants, passions, and their successful business ‘YogBar’.

Charlotte Hodson, 23, and Stephanie Hodson, 27, on the outset are your typical, every day girlnext-door; but with their countless pageant wins in the bag, and a successful business which begun with just the two of them, these sassy sisters are rising to become two of the most influential names not only in the UK pageant industry, but for many young girls across the country at the moment.

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etween her busy schedule juggling pageants, charities, personal life and ‘yog bar’ (the girls local frozen yoghurt bar), we spoke to Charlotte about pageant life, business life, and what got the girls into competing in the first place.

“I actually became a bit obsessed with child pageants when I was about eight, after seeing a documentary about them. It was supposed to be portraying them negatively but I wasn’t aware of that at the time.

“Then, when I was 15 there was a reality show on Channel 4 where the winner would compete in a Teen pageant in Chicago so I regained interest in them, and after a trip to The Clothes Show aged

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Any girl who’s interested in any sort of performing arts can watch a pageant and decide they want to have a go.

MISS PAGEANT 2016

16, I entered my first competition ‘Teen Queen UK’. Eight years later and here I am still involved in them in some way… either competing, judging or helping out.”

Although Charlotte began entering pageants alone Stephanie soon followed suit, leading on to huge success for both sisters in the industry, including a number of regional, national, and international titles & awards, such as ‘Miss Cheshire’, ‘Miss North West’, ‘Europe’s Perfect Miss’, and ‘Miss Congeniality’… Just to name a few.

The girls still regularly compete and take part in pageants across the country, with Charlotte having held a firm place as a finalist for ‘Miss Universe – Great Britain’ just last year.

“Steph only got involved in 2011 after thinking it looked quite fun (I’d dragged her to enough pageants to watch me compete). I think any girl who’s interested in any sort of performing arts can watch a pageant and decide that they want to have a go too. I urged Steph to enter a new competition coming to the UK ran by the same girl who ran the pageant I had just competed in.

Steph entered, won, went to Spain to compete internationally, won the Miss Congeniality award and $1000, and became good friends with Holly, the UK director, so she didn’t really have a bad first time pageant experience!”

In their years of involvement in the pageant industry, Charlotte and her sister have gained friendships with countless other girls competing from all over the world; who just like themselves, believe there’s a lot more to pageants than just the ‘beauty’ of it, and that character and confidence building are a crucial factor of the modern day pageant, changing many young women’s lives.

“Pageants for myself, and many others are a bit of a performance output. They’re a huge factor in building confidence in young women. I am now a different person to who I was before I started pageants, and have met so many girls who have had a similar journey. Almost every contestant I’ve met suffers from anxiety or has been bullied, or is simply an introvert, but they are a different person onstage. I very rarely meet girls competing who are self-involved, which is what critics expect but it’s mostly the opposite. Pageants are character building.

Critics complain that pageants are ‘outdated’ however it is their views which are outdated. Much like everything else in the world, Pageants have evolved and changed with the times.

I do admit, I see pageant footage from the 60’s and 70’s and it can make my toes curl a bit; groups of young girls having their measurements

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announced in a hall full of people and male judges to choose whose body is considered the most beautiful, it’s ludicrous, but what is worse is people who believe this is still the case and refuse to educate themselves on a modern day Pageant.

I would love for someone to read this and pick out what on earth could be considered an unfair representation of a modern woman because everything I see year after year is utterly impressive and cannot paint young girls in a better light.”

Charlotte told us about the positive effects in which pageants have on the girls competing, and how learning eloquence and becoming more articulate and confident for interviews has helped her to excel

Critics complain that pageants are ‘out-

dated’ however it is their views which

are outdated. Much like everything else in the world, Pageants have evolved and changed with the times.

both in her personal life and career.

Since first competing in pageants back in 2007, Charlotte, soon followed by her sister Steph, has raised thousands for charities through pageants alone.

“Pageants have definitely influenced our involvement in charity fundraising. I regretfully don’t think I would have raised money for charities if it wasn’t for me competing in pageants. In 2012 Steph and I held a Charity Christmas Party in a local restaurant with cocktail offers, cakes, food, raffle prizes, live music just asking for donations and we made over £500. More recently I raised £450 for ‘Strongbones’ children’s charity by covering songs & posting themwhen people donated to my justgiving page.

Some pageants don’t have an official charity competition where you gain a higher placing if you raise the most money, instead they urge girls to choose a ‘platform’ – a cause close to their hearts, and if they win they will be able to turn their platform into a fully functioning charity. When I competed in America in 2012 my chosen platform was ‘C.A.R.E’ which focused

on support for carers in the UK as myself and my mum were caring for my Nan at the time. I then became the face of Carers UK national campaign, so even when not raising money I have always been involved in charities through pageants.

I have no idea how much I would have raised for charities during my ‘Pageant Career’ I really should have kept tabs.

I have seen in my time well over £200,000 if not more get raised for various charities at different competitions. Some girls, mostly teenagers, will arrive to registration with cheques reaching £7000 because of an event they held teamed with other fundraisers. These are teenage girls doing amazing things for causes and charities whilst still being at school and learning how to be self-sufficient and hold events.”

Back in 2014 while Charlotte was still studying in University, the girls became inspired after visiting one of their favourite hangout spots in Manchester, and Steph and Charlotte decided to venture out with a business plan of their own, opening ‘Yog Bar’, a frozen yoghurt shop in their hometown. Little did they know, ‘Yog Bar’ would soon become a huge success, and the new local Images clockwise: Photograph by John Cox, reproduced by kind permission of Cheshire Life; crowning at Miss England; Charlotte posing as the face of Carers UK; Charlotte on a yaght with fellow pageant girls; Charlotte practicing her pageant smile

hangout in the Wirral. Since opening, yog has seen a number of celebrities visiting from across the country, such as comedian Peter Kay, and they even received a promised future visit from One Directions’ Harry Styles himself.

“The Yog Bar was Steph’s idea completely; I graduated as she began to put the wheels in motion, so it became a joint effort to create a look, branding etc. We have found our personality and skills are completely opposite ends of the spectrum so all aspects of the business are able to do well because we touch on different things we personally excel at.

Having contacts in local newspapers through our pageants helped us promote our new business locally. Pageants also teach you to act a certain way which helps with customer service.

There is an unwritten rule in pageants that as soon as you arrive at the venue you are being judged so you must always act professionally.

Being outgoing, chatty and friendly and learning how to public speak has helped us too. I’ve personally found that helpful when we have to hold classes on nutrition for teenagers who come in.

Pageants can teach you skills that can be applied to every aspect of life.”

The girls have had an incredible journey since first competing in pageants, with huge success both within the industry and out of it, and they no doubt have much more on its way.

So, were there any words of wisdom for all our dream queens out there? Of course…

“I would always say to a future contestant to really research the competition she is going for as they are all so different with different focuses.

Some girls don’t know that something that may have worked in one competition is their next competitions pet hate so research is essential.

It is also a great way to build yourself up, some pageants have 50+ contestants and there can only be one winner. Disappointment is something I know too well but it makes winning so much more meaningful when it happens and if you’re dedicated enough, it will happen.”

MISS PAGEANT 2016

19

Sayhellotoyourveryown

Fairy Godmother...

Amy Barker has gone from pageant princess to savvy entrepeneur who set up a boutique with the goal of granting every pageant girls’ wish of finding their dream dress...

E

By Mollie Hammond

ye-catching, girly and stylishly designed

throughout, The Pageant Boutique isn’t

hard to miss. Nestled in the small market town of Bingley, West Yorkshire, it boasts an array of colourful and delicately designed dresses which line every wall. With a dedication to finding every girls’ dream dress, it would be next to impossible to leave without ‘the one’.

In just two years the boutique has built up a large clientele of girls from across the country. The reason behind the undeniable success of the Pageant Boutique lies with owner Amy Barker, 20, who has been competing in the pageant industry for almost five years.

“I’ve been entering pageants since the age of 16,” explains pretty and petite Amy, her voice soft and welcoming,“I had really low self-confidence and thought I’d jump straight in at the deep end and do something completely crazy.”

It’s hard to believe that the entrepreneurial business woman I’m chatting away with once was unable to speak to strangers. Dressed in casual jeans and a knitted jumper, she smiles and talks at ease about her long standing involvement within the pageant industry.

“The first pageant I took part in was Miss Teen Galaxy England which is a fantastic national

pageant. I won the Miss Charity Award at Face of the Globe and Young Inspirational Woman of the Year at the Women's Inspirational Awards.”

After becoming so involved with an industry she now loved, Amy decided she wanted to open her own shop dedicated to pageant dresses. Inevitably not the most straightforward task for an 18 year old, she was determined to make her dream a reality and with the help of mum the business was founded in January 2014.

“I wanted to set up the shop myself. I had found a market that I loved and I was determined that I would make it happen but because I was only 18 it was a struggle to get the finance for it on my own. I decided to get my Mum involved and we now both do it together.

“At 18 I was dead set on going to university and five months later Mum and I were cutting the ribbon to our boutique. It’s a really nice family run business and I’m so proud of our success.”

It’s clear to see that Amy involves herself with every aspect of the business and she beams as she talks about being a part of finding the perfect dress for her clients.

“It's a lovely thing to be involved with, especially when I get to see pictures of girls at a

pageant in their beautiful gowns with big smiles on their faces. It makes me feel like I’ve done a good job and that they will treasure those memories forever. It’s amazing knowing I was part of making those memories” Adjacent to a wall covered in intricately illustrated tiaras, a life size Barbie box takes centre stage with a purpose to provide girls with the perfect photo opportunity, adding to the experience provided here.

“We aim to provide a fun experience where you can take your time and try as many dresses as you please and take lots of photos. We just want our girls to come here and have fun, experiment with styles and colours and make sure they absolutely fall head over heels for their dress before purchasing it. It’s the most awful thing having dress doubt two weeks before an event!”

It’s no secret that we girls are indecisive, and Amy laughs as she tells me that at The Pageant Boutique it certainly holds true.

“A lot of girls will come in with a picture of a dress and believe that it’s exactly what they want.

They’ll try it on and it might fit perfectly but they change their mind and go away with something completely different.

“We get girls who leave with a plain dress when they were originally set on a sparkly one and girls who wanted a simple dress and go away with something covered in glitz. This is all part of the dress finding process which I love being a part of.”

Amy has accumulated extensive knowledge over the years both through her pageants and

“

textile qualifications which has aided massively in her business.

“I’ve been doing textiles for four years so I’m also a dress maker. I can have a consultation with the girls who come in on how we can customize their dress and make it completely unique. With a limited amount of dresses in a collection, It’s nice to make a dress into something that’s completely your own.”

The dresses are stunning. Eight renowned brands are stocked, all sparkling on the rails, organised by colour to make the search through the vast range of designer dresses just that little bit easier.

“We mainly stock Sherri Hill which is one of the number one brands. Paris Hilton wears Sherri Hill, as do Miss America and Miss USA. Mac Duggal is another very popular brand that we stock, which has a loyal celebrity following. Angela & Alison is one of the newer designers we now sell here. The dresses are cheaper than other brands but still are of a high quality.”

It’s amazing knowing I

Courtesy of Mantis Photography

was part of

making those

“

memories.

In the two years the boutique has been open, Amy has built up a loyal clientele and reveals she has girls who regularly visit her from places as far as Kent, Newcastle and Edinburgh. She shows no signs of slowing down and lights up when she talks about her plans for the future.

“I plan on expanding the boutique across the country and hope to stock more and more top designers but definitely want to mainly keep with our favourite designers Sherri Hill and Mac Duggal. Perhaps one day I will come to direct my own pageant? I'm not 100% sure where this path is taking me but I am definitely enjoying the ride.”

Left to right: a selection of dresses; Amy standing proudly outside The Pageant Boutique; Amy competing in Face of the Globe; pictures inside the boutique.

G

My fight for

lobalHealth Issues surrounding global health are a continual concern for major governmental and professional health bodies. One pageant girl set out on a quest to tackle these issues first-hand and she’s told Miss Pageant her story...

By Natasha Pilling

After taking a year out from Cambridge University to compete in pageants, Carina Tyrrell now holds the crown for Miss England 2014, Miss United Kingdom 2015 and Miss World 2015. Carina told me her story of how she hopes to tackle inequalities in healthcare provision around the world by working in the field with patients, as well as at the policy level.

As a child, I found myself fascinated with the work of doctors and saddened watching adverts pleading for people to donate money so young children could Carina in Africa with children she was helping to educate have clean water. Day after day between my after school cartoons, I continued to wonder why the children on the adverts needed so much help from people in the UK. So, when I got to my second year of primary school I began noticing my obsession more and wanted more than anything to be involved in healthcare and what it might take to make a difference.

At age five, I left the classroom one day with fear and disbelief. I had learned that one child dies every 30 seconds from malaria and I could not believe that children on the other side of the world are dying from a disease transmitted from something as small as a mosquito. That pivotal moment launched me on a lifelong ambition to help those in need. Two years later, I participated in a charity run for Triez Les Dechets and my enthusiasm towards charitable organisations grew. From then, up until the age of thirteen, I managed to raise over ÂŁ20,000 and ran a record distance of 50km. I remember how tiring it was committing all my time and effort to this cause, but the fulfilment I felt in my heart was enough for me to continue to fight for the less fortunate.

When I turned sixteen, I travelled to Kodaikanal in India with a school. I helped to build a crèche, teach basic sanitation to children and donate funds raised for clean water. Soon after, I travelled to Ghana for a conference on millennium development goals and poverty. I then joined the Noguchi Memorial Institute

for medical research where we collected stool, urine and blood samples from children at school in order to diagnose and treat infectious diseases. I was struck and saddened that the community considered malaria to be part of life and the community were shocked to see how easy it was for us to access treatment. Through my work, I became part in providing HIV education and treatment therapy to the local community in Rwanda with Lux Aid. I witnessed HIV positive mothers struggling to pay for both medication for themselves and food for their children, some of which were as young as 18 months old.

At nineteen, while interning at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brazil, I was horrified to witness the stigma attached to leprosy. I discovered that many mothers were losing their babies to syphilis and all they needed was a simple dose of penicillin. It was shocking to think that half of the world cannot obtain one dose of this drug while the other half have problems with excess antibiotics prescriptions.

Later in my life, when joining university I wanted to help local people less fortunate than myself and the most disadvantaged in any community are the homeless. I became president of the Cambridge University Global

Carina, aged 7 during a charity run for Triez Les Dechets Health Society to encourage students to help the homeless, so I started an outreach programme.

Fortunately, it was a great success and now students can volunteer at homeless shelters, give lectures to the homeless and help get people off the streets. Being Miss England has enabled me to extend my help to the homeless and I have been able to witness the complexity of the problem through a variety of different projects. I initially began by serving breakfast at a Winter Comfort event and this developed into organising football training with Cambridge City FC and socialising with homeless people at places like Jimmy’s Night Shelter.

I now have a deeper appreciation of the difficulties homeless people face, including the stigma attached to homelessness. Perceptions need

to change. In October, I decided to sleep rough on the streets of Cambridge to raise awareness and comprehend the hardship homeless people struggle with night after night. I am so grateful and overwhelmed at the opportunity of using the Miss England platform, with my medical background to further develop my work with the homeless.

Amongst all this, I work with Teddy Bear Hospital where school children bring their sick teddy’s to be treated by medical students. The medical students intern, teach the children about health and how to reduce hospital anxiety. Since nearing the end of university, I have begun developing the UK National Teddy Bear Hospital Network. But, another charity close to my heart is Coram, who support many of the

Carina with friends she made in Rwanda during her studies on HIV education treatment

changed drastically and the reality that so Carina sleeping rough on much suffering exists today is distressing. It is the streets of Cambridge. unacceptable that in 2015 there is still so much inequality in the health industry and Miss World is my global platform for which these boundaries can be surpassed to help those in need. I can honestly say that I am honoured to be part of Miss World and their charity Beauty with a Purpose, as I want to specialise in global health and infectious disease for the rest of my career.

I think I have always been a young lady pursuing an academic career, but I made the decision to take a risk with pageantry as it was something out of the ordinary amongst my fellow student doctors. There has been a lot of up’s and down’s, but I have really learned something from this wonderful experience, whether it be working with all the charities I have or standing

causes dear to me and help children all over the world get a healthy start in life. Having witnessed poverty, suffering and neglect in different parts of the world it was a breakthrough for myself when the Miss England competition raised £50,000 for such a worthy charity. Things like this couldn’t happen without a platform like Miss England and I am privileged to be part of the commendable work they do.

At the United Nations in Geneva, I attended and spoke at the Student League of Nations. When I was interning at the World Health Organisation, I helped investigate the cause of serious infections in babies in Africa and Asia. I did this in the hope of reducing the infant mortality rate and my work is ongoing. Miss England is continually helping me pursue my dream of fighting global health issues and I am pleased to now be supporting ‘Medicins San Frontieres, doctors without boarders’ and their work on Ebola through social media advocacy.

Twenty years ago, my view on the world

It is unacceptable that in 2015 there is still so much inequality in the health industry as a public figure, it’s all paid off! My desire to be a good role model for women continues even when I swap the scrubs for an evening gown. I want all girls and women to feel beautiful and be confident in themselves and their goals in life.

For myself, my quest for finding a solution to global health issues continues. But, as for pageantry I am planning to have a break from competing and see the industry from a judge’s perspective for the first time next year. I am excited to see what other UK women can bring to the catwalk and join me and others, living a dream they never thought possible.

Carina, aged 17, and a Ghanain community who gathered to talk about development goals on poverty

S harity C weet

Sally-Ann Fawcett knows pageantry like the back of her hand; having had a passion for the industry from a young age and an all round interest in pageantry, Miss Pageant has caught up with Sally-Anne, about how she thinks Whilst some may think beauty beautypageants pageants are only have about evolved the glitz, the and glamour and gallivanting changed across over the globe, the years. for some, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Four pageant girls tell us about what they

P

get up to when they’re not on the catwalk.

By Sophie Burgess

ageantry provides a grand podium for showcasing talents, building confidence, shaking low self-esteem and creating positive role models for communities and nations the world over.

Aside from controversial views of pageantry, the international competitions provide a platform for many wonderful things to happen. As well as boosting confidence, meeting new friends and traveling all over the world, pageant princesses are encouraged to get their charitable groove on and get involved in good-will ventures.

Whilst pageant girls do flaunt their designer ball gowns, flash their tiaras and show off their attributes on the catwalk (which is all well and good) judges also take great consideration for personality, intelligence, talent and altruistic qualities.

Voluntary work, raising money and awareness, helping others, and having a positive impact on the communities around them is something that is a delightful extra to their all rounded beauty. Despite what many may think, it really is the inside that counts.

20 year old Jessica Page, pictured top right, has been involved in Miss World since she was 17, and has placed fifth in two Miss England regional heats, all the while spending much of her free time working with the Variety club the official Miss World link charity.

Jessica started pageants at the age of 17 when she entered Miss Liverpool, because her family told her to give it a go as it would boost her confidence after she was feeling low on self-esteem for being tall; “I used to hate the ‘being tall thing’.”

That year, she placed second in Miss Liverpool and was invited to compete at the Miss England Semi Finals in Torquay; and that she she did, placing in the top 5.

“When I placed fifth at the finals, I couldn’t believe how far I had come considering I was so young and had never done it before.” Jessica has competed in many pageants since then, always placing highly.

She has ran various types of events such as charity fashion shows, bake sales, a race night, car boot sales, and beauty parties in order to raise money for Variety. “I have also worked with Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice, and I regularly donate money to this charity as well as The Variety Club too. I like to work with Zoe’s Place as they are a smaller organisation and a lot more local to me.”

25

Jessica is also an ambassador for Project Code Red, which is a charity that aims to help homeless women by providing them with health care and sanitary products. “They try to ask people to donate any new or unused sanitary products for women living on the streets who can’t afford these things.”

And on the subject of beauty queens in general, Jessica believes the overall package of beauty queens has completely changed over the past few years. “You can’t just be pretty in a beautiful dress and win. You have to be elegant, smart, well mannered, a good public speaker, educated on current issues in your country, be involved in work for different charities, and be able to market yourself and the organisation in a positive way.”

A lot of girls have done incredible things for charity and are probably the most positive and determined women I know She says pageantry is like a full time job and takes up a lot of time in preparation. “The girls are often mistaken for just being stupid when, really, 99% of the girls are all in college or university and studying for a qualification. A lot of them have done incredible things for charity and are probably the most positive and determined women I know.”

Sharlene Bayliss, 19, was second runner up in the Miss Shropshire contest 2014/15. After overcoming alopecia at the age of 14, Sharlene volunteered to take part in a charity catwalk for My New Hair, a charity which gives support and advice for medical hair loss.

Sharlene after being crowned Miss Shropshire second runner up 2014/15

It was a very fulfilling experience and one that I will never forget closely with the U.S and Philippine Navy, volunteering at a school where we built facilities and handed out food to the children. It was a very fulfilling experience and one that I will never forget.”

On returning back to the UK, Sharlene has continued with her selfless charity work, working closely with animals and wildlife with Friends Of Apley Woods, all the while studying for her degree in Business and Management at Birmingham City University, where she’s also Student Voice Assistant at the university’s student union.

Since then, Sharlene has raised money for Beauty with a Purpose, the charity linked with Miss World. “Beauty with a Purpose is a humanitarian charity which participates in projects worldwide. We are encouraged highly to get involved and raise money for Beauty with a Purpose.

“The commitment shown from getting involved with this does show that you are a charitable person, which is also what the judges are looking for. They look for a well rounded person.”

Sharlene’s charitable ventures have also taken her far and wide across the globe. “In Summer 2015 I traveled to the Philippines and worked Sharlene in the Philippines

“

Nicol Ellison, current Miss Cheshire Galaxy and former Miss Liverpool GB, has been involved in pageantry for two years, since something happened that left her with confidence issues and anxiety. Since then, she’s taken it upon herself to give back to the community and to help people in need.

“That’s the reason I started pageants; to help with my confidence and anxiety that i have suffered for years.

Pageantry is brilliant and empowering to women and an amazing achievement when you are on that stage.”

“A lot of hard work goes into competing in pageants”, says Nicol, “Whether it’s picking the perfect dress or organising your own charity event. It takes a lot of time but its worth it because the satisfaction you get from helping amazing causes is brilliant. Most pageants may have a link charity but this doesn’t mean that we are forced to raise money for them – it’s up to us!”

Nicol has taken part in various charitable pur suits from helping people with long-term illnesses to raising money for children with disabilities, all the while studying for a Bachelor Degree of Science in Information Systems Management.

“So we do have brains as well!” Nicol laughs.

Nicol first competed in the Miss Cheshire regional heat for the Miss England organ isation and won the sash for

Zahida Nick Allen from Newcastle has been involved in pageants nationally and across the globe, sitting on both side of the panel. She started getting involved in pageantry at age 16 after a “rough childhood” made her want to keep herself busy doing different things. In 2012, Zahida won the title of Miss Earth Newcastle, and has won various smaller titles ever since.

She tells me that pageantry isn’t just about the beauty side, but the charity side is just as important, if not more.

“Every contestant has to raise money for whatever the chosen charity is by that pageant. Normally I like to host a pub quiz and get friends involved who help to sort it out and have other games and activities on during the night which help raise money.”

“

The sign of a true beauty queen is that she holds respect for others as highly as she holds her crown.

Pictures top to bottom:

Nicol proudly wears her Miss Cheshire Galaxy Sash at a fundraising night for young girls with cancer; walking the catwalk in her Miss Cheshire Galaxy sash.

Miss Charity Cheshire, after raising over £500 for ‘Variety’, a charity for diabled children.

“Galaxy encourages us to create our own platform of what matters to us and I decided to focus on confidence.

I chose to support the ‘Anxiety UK Charity’, which helps people overcome anxiety. I have delivered leaflets for them and written an article about my anxiety and pageant journey for their spring edition.” Nicol also works to raise money for the ‘Look Good Feel Better Charity’, which is for women who are battling cancer to help them be more confident in themselves through beauty workshops.

The charity work and volunteering that beauty queens are so avidly involved in is certainly something that is changing the face of pageantry for the better. Nicol is passionate about her pageant success so far, and has a great love for the industry.

“Galaxy is a brilliant pageant as it brings women of all ages together; we are like a family from day one - not like stereotypical views of pageants being catfights or bitchiness. The sign of a true queen is that she holds respect for others as highly as she holds her crown.”

A few years ago Topshop allowed Zahida and her sister to do nail painting and face painting on a busy Saturday in order to raise money, alongside holding charity photoshoots and taking part in the Midnight Walk with St Oswald’s Hospice every year.

“St Oswald’s Hospice took care of a family member of mine in 2010 and really helped my family during the hard times and after, so I am eternally grateful to them for their service.”

And on top of all that, Zahida and her sister also regularly provide homeless people with blankets; “I absolutely love doing this, it’s such a giving feeling knowing something so small like that can help someone so much.”

what makes

a girl ueen Q ? a

Take a look at some of this season’s top pageant fashion faves, and get the low down on the best dresses to turn you into the ultimate beauty queen.

By Amy Wilkinson

W

ith the pageant season well

up & running, we’re all get-

ting ourselves ready for the

runway. Whether its glitz, glam & gems galore you’re after, or you’re feeling the classic 1920’s Hollywood look, we’ve got some top stylists to help you find your look. From budget to big bucks, these girls are here to make you the chicest belle of the ball.

“

Sophia:

I love Mac Duggal’s collection.

I’ve only ever bought two Mac Duggal dresses (I love my high street bargains), but I just adore the way they hug my figure.

Definitely one of my favourite designers and really affordable if you’re on a budget.

Debbie Gates, 43, a prom dress designer from Cheshire and Sophia Lacey, 22, fashion student and

beauty queen

from Liverpool

gave us a little . helping hand

in picking this

seasons’ best dresses.

If there’s one thing every girl has in common, no matter what kind of day it is, we always know how to look killer in red… Jessica Rabbit style.

And with dozens of gorgeous red collections this season, it seems our favourite pageant designers aren’t disagreeing with us on that one. Mac Duggal have released a number of show-stopping reds for their 2016 range, and with many of their dresses starting from £250, well, it’s hard to say no.

So what other top looks can we grab this season?

Sophia gives us the low down...

“

Two pieces are really hot this year. Co-ords have been a popular thing in UK fashion for some time now, but with pageant dresses I’d definitely say this is the season for two pieces!

There’s a gorgeous Sherri Hill two piece in her new collection which, I’m not sure if it still is,

“

but was pretty much the top seller across a lot of UK retailers. It’s an embellished crop with an ostrich feather skirt, but at £700 it might be a little over some girls’ budgets.

Photo credit: Instagram @thepageantboutique

If you’re feeling pretty in pink this season, our favourite designers haven’t left you out in the cold either. Take a look at these floral and lace designs from Sherri Hill, starting at £320.

Debbie:

“

Florals and pinks are going to be a huge deal this year. A lot of new ranges like this Sherri Hill collection have showcased a number of stunning

“

floral dresses, and we’re loving it.

It doesn’t get more feminine than floral, and

when you’re up on the runway in one of these dresses you completely blossom with elegance.

If you’ve already bagged your designer showstopper and . you’re looking for a slightly cheaper addition to the wardrobe, take a look at the new collection from Angela and Alison, available from £150.

If that’s still a little pricey for you, Topshop and Lipsy among other leading high street shops have plenty of dresses and co-ords perfect to suit your pageant needs.

MISS PAGEANT 2016

29

Pageant

Miss

The UK’s

first

Pageant Magazine