In terms of pageantry, this could be the best year for myself! I am finally going to America with some truly amazing girls, I've overcome my worst critics whilst sashaying in swimwear and I have achieved so much. As I sit here in my little flat, with my roxy foxy snoozing away, just finished painting Penelope's nursery wall and having her kick me in the stomach for it,on my lovely new laptop curtesy of my pageant godmother Jill, life couldn't get much better than this! So in true pageant style, this is my 2017 pageant highlights;
Miss Galaxy Wales Finals March 2017
The last time I competed in the Galaxy finals was all the way back in 2011 when it was my first proper national final. To say I was feeling nervous was an understatement!! I always wanted to come back to galaxy when I was ready, I was so overwhelmed back in 2011, didn't know much about the pageant world, my outfits of choice were questionable! I wanted to experience what the pageant world had to offer, plus I wasn't in a position for the sponsorship. Fast forward to 2016 and I decided to bite the bullet, especially as winning Mrs Galaxy Sarah was a plus size goddess and international beauty queen paving the way for us curvlicious gals wanting to enter the system. I decided to represent my welsh heritage seeing as I was forever in Wales visiting friends, seeing other pageant friends and helping out, I even jumped off a bridge in Newport! Some people may have questioned my right to represent Wales, but my family are very multicultural I could of gone to enter for Ireland if I wanted to but Wales has a special place in my heart (conflicted when it comes to the rugby though I'm not going to lie!). I was really lucky to watch my girls Celene, Georgia and Sabrina rock the stage (me and Ruth lost our voices whilst Jill must of thought what is this world!) the night before and it was amazing to have people supporting me! It wasn't meant to be this time for me, and I believe everything happens for a reason, like if I had won Miss Wiltshire back in 2013 I would of never entered FOTG and got to go to Paris. But I slayed the stage on swimwear, showing everyone that curves can rock that stage in a "mainstream" pageant. I'll be back soon Galaxy...
The Beni Bear Club April 2017
I am very lucky to be a Patron for the Beni Bear Club, and was invited to talk all about pageants at their club night and talk about my experiences of anti bullying. I bought along a few scrapbooks showing my photos and newspaper articles as well as a few crowns for them to try on (as you can see Beni Bear had to try on a crown too, it very much suits him!). I gave a talk to the children and we got to have a catwalk off, with some amazing dancing at the end. It really warms my heart to see children of all different abilities being able to play and have fun together without the worries of social discrimination which is what the club provides with its club nights. A chance to feel normal and be a child, whilst learning something new each club night!
Miss Inspiration Finals April 2017
Myself and Georgia entered last minute after missing the pageant stage, it was also a chance for me to use my glue gun! I've always dreamed of making a national wear made of rose petals, and I had a week to make this little beauty! It was always nice to go back to wales, and see a few familiar faces. It was my third and last attempt at the title, I was lucky to be awarded the miss curves award the year before as well as miss congeniality but this year I came away empty handed and not being bale to walk due to my hips. This was a big moment for me because for one it made me push the doctors more (which has resulted for me being on the surgery list for a hip operation), but also to take some time out and really dedicate myself to one system. With pageantry sometimes you want to enter everything and walk the stage every single day, but it can get lost in translation. I wanted to show the directors that I am the queen for them so I entered Galaxy again as I aged into the Ms Category except life had something else planned for me, in the shape of the baby I was told I could never have! So no galaxy (as I would make pageant history for giving birth on stage!) but other pageant opportunities awaited!!
Watching Sabrina win Catwalk Perfect November 2017
The best thing about pageants is not just your own success but that of your friends. I wouldn't be where I would be today without them, through the constant WhatsApp chats, appearances, tags in silly posts but being there for thick and thin. We build each other up, which was why we travelled all the way to Peterbourgh to cheer on Sabrina. Of course by now I was over four months pregnant and feeling the sickness, and long car journeys don't mix well but I had my hair on, make up painted on and heels to stumble in plus a banner! We were also on the queens table so loads of cheering and crowns a plenty!! Seeing Sabrina take her crown after all that hard work was the best feeling ever, and also made me extra nervous for my upcoming finals!! But she did it! And I can see a long line of glittering crowns in the future for the Wiltshire Beauty Queens!!
Being crowned Young European Ms International November 2017
Say it with me, I'M GOING TO TEXASSSSSS!!! So yes I went from retiring after galaxy to being enticed with my last chance in pageant heels by Jeyanne, who knew I was pregnant and offered me a lot of alternatives if I was to consider YEMI again. I competed back in 2016 but was not my best on stage. I loved everything about the system but I had my heart set on Galaxy. So I was faced with a pageant dilemma, but my heart said just once more and this time give it your all. It was not a nice time in my life, I was being bullied, pregnancy was making me sick and tired all the time but whenever I feel low, pageantry always helps me remember how strong I am and who I am. I was true to my word, I put the work in as YEMI Wiltshire. I attended as many events as I could, the best thing about YEMI is you aren't confined to raising money for one charity alone so you can support ones close to your heart. I held an homeless appeal at work and got so many donations to help, I also did a project code red appeal with different pageant queens donating tampons and pads. I built others confidence with pageant training and watch the success of their training, I even managed a little bit of sleep on the way! By the time finals came, I was ready! Of course I was an emotional mess the night before when Penelope received her own little crown and sash (plus I only found out I was having a girl a couple of days before so was still fresh!!) but I was not leaving that hotel without that crown! I felt confident in my interview, felt amazing in my pageant make up and confident that my outfits and smile would seal the deal... even after being glued into my fashion outfit!! The trusty glue gun again!! Winning best in interview of course was one of the best feelings because as a pageant coach, you should practice what you preach! But when my name was called, I cried, my friends cried, Penelope decided to cheer and kick! It just shows that hard work and determination will get you the title you deserve!
I am proof you can win if you are curvy, short, even pregnant! It's not all looks, its personality, its the behind the scenes work. The hard work begins here and 2018 is going to be a bigger year yet! I will have my baby girl, be leaving Europe for the first time to go to America, also I will be on hand when I hand over my title that my Wiltshire beauty queens have followed in my footsteps and decided to enter YEMI too!!! Whatever you decide to do in 2018, whatever system you chose to represent, just stay true to yourself and achieve everything your heart desires!!!
Happy New Year!!
Love
Hannah
X <3 X
Your Young European Ms International 2017
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