It still hasn't quite sunk in that I am the Ms Winner of YEMI, going to Texas NEXT year to represent Europe! Not only that, but I competed at 5 months pregnant and a plus size gal. A lot of people always ask why I compete, especially since I am not the usual size 8 queen they see when they watch Miss Universe and other pageants around the globe. They ask what you get out of pageants, are you just setting yourself up for people judging you, nasty comments on the internet and fat shaming. There was one teen at the final who had a self doubt moment comparing herself to the other girls and saying she was bigger, well here is the proof you can be plus size and still walk away with the crown (also my Mrs winner Dawn is rocking the plus size!).
Of course I've not always competed when I was a size 16/18, I actually was a size 8/10 at one point. When I first started competing I had no confidence at all, pageants helped me overcome an abusive relationship which left my self esteem at an all time low. My body may have been slim but it was not strong, it carried the excess weight of my past, and after a few health problems my weight did go up. But with that, so did my confidence. When you feel happy in your own skin, wonderful things can happen! Of course there are always some self doubts, and people who try and knock you down but if you believe in yourself, the only person you need to answer to is you!!
As females we should not be ashamed of our lumps and bumps, but rather embrace the change! It doesn't matter if you are super skinny or on the larger side. If you only step foot in the gym in January, or if you practically live there. If you eat salads and do yoga, or treat yourself to a weekly takeaway. As long as you feel comfortable in your own skin, that is what matters! The benefits also help your emotional well-being and will show on stage. I don't like to think of myself as plus size, and only have to enter plus size pageants because that's where I belong. I believe that any shape, size, age and background should have an equal chance of being able to win the title!
Because of pageants I have been involved in some amazing campaigns and one thing I am very proud to be a part of is the #FAB campaign as an ambassador. #FAB is an anti-bullying movement, and involved females and males of all different backgrounds to come together and embrace everything they have, past and present. As a pageant queen, I believe it is our role as a titleholder to help inspire others and be a good role model. Being a personal trainer, I want to make everyone feel comfortable in their own skin, and improve what they already have. Not change who they are, but rather enhance their lifestyle. The same goes with pageantry, by spreading the message that is ok to love yourself and love the skin that you are in, to ignore the bullies and put yourself first. I hope through my reign as Young European Ms International to help others to overcome their body hang ups, to do things that they never thought of trying. You are good enough, and sometimes that good enough just deserves a crown that everyone can see, rather than an invisible one you already own.
If you would like to find our more about the #FAB campaign then please look at their Facebook and get involved
And if you would like to follow my pageant journey all the way to Texas then find me on Facebook!
Thank you for reading, every week before little Penelope comes I will be sharing a positive pageant snippet from my journey and the projects that I am involved in! Next week, I will be talking all about Project Code Red and the amazing work they do!!
Ciao for now!
Hannah
X <3 x
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