You might be a great potential winner because...

An earlier blog post I wrote demonstrated a number of reasons why I would encourage young women to enter Miss England. And there are plenty of reasons I can tell you about. However, I want to make sure that people thinking of entering understand what the role entails, and what past Miss England's can show about the type of women who go onto win are like.

Yes, this is a competition, but ultimately it isn’t something, I believe anyway, you can't just turn up on the day and win. It is a bit like X-Factor, a few auditions and judges feedback that is in the limelight, with a heck of a lot of hard work, practice and determination going on behind the scenes.


After having a conservation with Miss Hampshire organiser Paula Langley, who told me about her desire to ramp the competition up a notch next year, I thought it might be worthwhile to instead of listing out all the reasons why you should enter (and pushing you into it), I would discuss attributes and reasons about why you might be great for the competition.

You might be great for the competition because…..

You have a cause close to your heart.

All contestants support Beauty with a Purpose, but we also have a number of charities and/or platforms that we care about too. Perhaps something that has impacted family and friends, or a local cause that needs more recognition? Our current Miss England Carina Tyrrell is studying at Cambridge University to be a doctor. Her support and knowledge, of the World Health Organisation is obviously great for the Miss England organisation, but it is also great to see her making a difference with her own passion.

A personal charity of mine that means something to me is Naomi House and Jacksplace, which is a local children’s hospice in Hampshire. I grew up baking brownies and selling them at school because of the local connection, and even now I still support them by recently running the Rainbow Run for them.

You want to do something different, because you are different.

If you’re the type of girl who likes to stand out and celebrate their uniqueness, then we definitely want to hear from you! Same goes for girls who maybe need a bit of a self-esteem boost, who want to be proud of their individuality one day.

Competing is not about the pretty evening dresses (although that is part of the fun!), but about having the guts to stand on stage and be the real you, and just as importantly, be proud of the real you! Let the world see your crazy talents, your sweat from the boot-camp round, and your personal interview. If you like celebrating you, you’re one of us!

For womankind

Above all, this was what drove myself to enter. I was so fed up of the stereotypical attitudes I had seen, and FYI – you don’t need to be 6ft 4” and a size zero to enter. I did it to show anyone can have a go. I am a belly dancing oil and gas journalist who loves the History channel and politics, who also likes being involved in Miss England. I wanted other young women to see me as an example that there is no one size fits all when it comes to contestants.  I did it for my little cousin to see whether she wanted to have a turn eventually. I did it for every girl that had ever been put down.

In one of my very early competitions – the only non-Miss England competition I ever entered, and never will go near ever again! – I was told by the organiser that I didn’t wear enough make-up, my hair was too big (something I still think is impossible btw!), and my thighs were too fat! I was 19. It was such a disgusting thing to say to an impressionable teenager, who very nearly gave up. I remember telling Becky Chapman, the Miss Cornwall organiser and Angie Beasley’s sister, about that incident and she was so upset for me, and proud that I was going to enter Miss England despite a rival competition nearly destroying my confidence. I won my next competition, and was a finalist in Miss England 2011.

It took a while, but I learnt to take constructive (constructive, not down-right rudeness) criticism and a number of awesome girls from that non-Miss England competition ended up throwing away the negativity as well by going onto to also qualify for Miss England many times too. It really shows what encouragement and empowerment your actions entering can bring, more than you know.

You’re proud of your area

Whether you have a love of where you grew up, where you’re currently at, or maybe where you have always been, if you are passionate about a town/city/county/village etc. then tell us by raising awareness about it. Being involved in a local community demonstrates a number of amazing qualities many Miss England’s have had – care, passion, girl-next-door vibe, local knowledge and so much more. It doesn’t matter to me how small a link to a place is; if you care about it, you might be great at representing it.

You want to raise the profile of Miss England

The competition is getting bigger every year, and with Miss World set to held in London this December, I have no doubt that there will tons of amazing women discovering their passion for the organisation.

But the simple fact is, not enough people know about the competition, the real side of it anyway. Learn about it and embrace it, and if you see something in it – the charitable causes it supports, the confidence it boosts, the lifelong friends you make – then maybe you’re the right fit.

I hope one day it’ll be back on T.V. I hope one day people won’t ask me if I want world peace and use haemorrhoid ointment on my bags and hairspray on my butt to stop my swimsuit from riding up (also, who doesn’t want world peace!?! Warmongers!) .

Look at what Carina has achieved with the press coverage, and the same goes for this year’s runner-ups, Holly and Mary-Kate. They are changing perceptions, and if that is what you like doing, then that is the right attitude for a potential crown-wearer right there.

Here is another simple fact for you. If you are asked why you want to be Miss England, and you say; “Because I want to be Miss England”, personally, I don’t think that cuts the mustard.

There must be reasons behind wanting that title, and while the points above are far from exclusive, and are horrendously biased from my own experiences, they are attitudes and motivations that I personally think make a great Miss England. So if you relate to one, two or heck, all five, I would recommend applying. And you get to wear a pretty evening dress too! ;)

P.S. I am interested in hearing other motives that are great for potential entrants to have. Drop me a comment or message please.