Monday, 25 January 2016

Why Should You Enter The Miss England Contest?

Look I’m pretty biased so if you’re reading this, you kind of know that I am going to advocate entering! However, I have compiled five awesome reasons to back me up, so take a look and see what you think…. 

1. Confidence
I think confidence is one of the biggest rewards you can obtain from entering Miss England. I know some people say that entering such contests might give your self-esteem a blow, but until you’ve experienced it, you won’t know the giddy rush you get from being on stage and strutting your stuff, and how great you feel after meeting the judges in your interview. I entered Miss England a few times and every year my confidence grew. Building confidence is crucial to growing as a person and because of entering Miss Hampshire and Miss England I feel so much more relaxed when I have to speak to strangers or go to a job interview.

2. Friendship
I have a real close knit group of friends from home and university, but some of my other closest friends are through Miss England. It doesn’t matter that we live up and down the country, it is a real unique and privileged opportunity to be involved in Miss England and that is something very special we share.

Pageants are not bitchy. Everyone is in the same boat, and everyone is there to make friends. What I love is helping each other zip in to dresses and calm each other’s nerves. Some contestants end up going on holiday together or even being each other’s flatmate or bridesmaid, so you gain a lot of really good friends through Miss England.

3. Opportunities
You might think that doing a beauty pageant would open a few doors to modelling assignments  - and you’re right. I have had paid modelling work which for a size 8-10 5”7 25 year old, is hard to come by! However, I have also been able to work in presenting which I absolutely love, and also work with a number of amazing charitable organisations. I’ve met some great local and national celebrities, and I’ve also been to places in the country I never thought I would. Plus I performed belly dancing by myself live on stage! You never quite know where entering a regional heat will take you so just grab the bull by the horns and do it!

4. Charity & community work
This is another big opportunity, and a massive part of Miss Hampshire and Miss England. Each year the competition raises funds for the official Miss World charitable organisation, Beauty with a Purpose (BWAP), and they want to hear about all the amazing ways contestants can raise funds. It's not just about how much you raise, but the effort and energy you put in. My proudest moment to date was not getting into the finals of Miss England for the third time (although still pretty chuffed about this), but it was actually running the ABP Southampton Half Marathon with my boyfriend for Southampton Hospital Charity and BWAP. This is because it was something I thought I could never ever do, and I am so proud of finishing the race, with my boyfriend who had just recovered from surgery, and raising lots of money for charity.

There's also a number of ways you can raise awareness of local charities, events and organisations. Having a title as a competitor of Miss Hampshire is a big deal and people are going to want you to appear to help their cause. Get involved and into the spirit; the more people you help, the more people will know about how great Miss Hampshire and Miss England is!

5. Fun

You get to make new friends while looking a million bucks, wear fabulous dresses and prance around like a catwalk queen. You might even get to meet Miss England, and Mr England as well ;) so there's tons of reasons to enter. Or even better, you might become Miss England, and MISS WORLD!

It's basically like a really intense and rewarding girls night out – that just lasts around a year. The best bit is all getting ready together and having a drama over false eyelashes or blisters. Or sharing your room with an awesome contestant from elsewhere in the country and having hot chocolate and chatting into the night about all the great stuff you do. Or seeing your family and friends in the crowd when you’re on stage. Or learning about where all your hard work fundraising goes to. Or realising one of these amazing girls you know is going to Miss World. Or realising it could be you! Okay so there are quite a few best bits!


Are you convinced? Email misshampshire@yahoo.com for an application form today! 

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