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11
Nov 2023
The Harrogate beauty queen waving the flag for mental health
Beauty pageants have become somewhat alien to us Brits in recent years, and still come with a lot of stereotypes.
However, one Harrogate woman, who is now in the running to become Miss England, is determined to use her beauty queen status as a means of empowering those who have faced similar struggles to her.
Chloe McEwen -- the recently-crowned Miss Yorkshire -- was just 16 when she had a mental breakdown.
Although it was never proven, she believes her drink was spiked while on a night-out for her birthday, and attributes the events that followed to that night.
She did not sleep for three days and doctors ended up sectioning her after she began hallucinating and threatening to jump from a window.
She said:
Ms McEwen added her weight “shot up” after living off pizza, chips and sugary treats during her eight-month stint in hospital.
It was then that she realised she could use her time in hospital to improve both her physical and mental health.
Ms McEwen has spent the last five years rebuilding her life. Now 21 and four stone lighter, she is a qualified personal trainer, model and, of course, beauty queen.
She now leads both group and private fitness classes, and is currently writing her own cookery book to help improve people's relationship with food.
In addition, she has also become a Sports Traider ambassador – a charity that uses fitness to help young people thrive.
After entering the Miss Yorkshire competition to celebrate her new-found body confidence, Ms McEwen discovered it was “not just all about beauty” as contestants were required to show the impact they had on other people's lives.
Her story remains at the forefront of her Miss England campaign, during which she will continue her advocacy for mental wellbeing in partnership with Mind.
She has also teamed up with The Prom Den – a dress shop in Brighouse – and will wear one of its gowns during the national competition. She added:
If triumphant, Chloe will qualify for the international competition, Miss World.
Read more:
- Harrogate’s Miss Yorkshire and the role of the modern beauty queen
- Miss Yorkshire contestant from Harrogate hopes to inspire others
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