To some, beauty pageants are outdated concepts that demean women.
Ripon’s Victoria Hind, who was recently crowned Miss North Yorkshire Galaxy, admits the stigma almost stopped her competing.
But she says the contests have helped her, and other female competitors, grow in confidence and she finds it empowering to walk on stage.
Ms Hind had never met another pageant competitor before she competed in Galaxy pageants so she says she was aware of the common misconceptions about how they’d be. But she met women of all races, backgrounds and sizes who were simply competing for fun.
She says:
“When I got my first Harrogate title last year it took me weeks to tell anyone because of the stigma. It’s completely opposite to what people think. People think pageant girls are bitchy but I’ve not met a single nasty person.”
Supermarket worker Ms Hind initially applied to enter for Miss Galaxy UK as a dare by her friends but after watching a TikTok video by a former Miss International about the benefits of pageants she went ahead.
Victoria Hind (centre) at the final for Miss Galaxy UK in November.
She insists that “old-fashioned views” about pageant competitors all looking a certain way and spending hundreds of pounds on dresses is no longer the case:
“None of us look alike, we’re all different races and have different backgrounds. I’ve seen people win in £20 dresses!
“There’s a huge misconception about pageants but people will never properly understand them until they know someone who competes.”
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Ms Hind said some of her friends and family don’t like her taking part in pageants while others are more encouraging by telling her “you do you”.
The 23-year-old says she can understand why some people harbour negative perceptions but her experience has enabled her to grow as a person.
Photograph: Brian Hayes Photography
Pageants have boosted her confidence and encouraged her to speak out about her experiences with dyslexia. Now she wants to go into schools and talk to young students about coping with learning difficulties and uses her platform to spread the word about causes close to her heart.
She adds:
“I don’t think I’m the most beautiful girl in North Yorkshire but I have the confidence to get up and walk on a stage and just have fun. It’s empowering to be up there and I do it for myself, no one else.”
Ripon beauty queen Victoria Hind has been crowned Miss North Yorkshire Galaxy 2022 to qualify for the grand final of Miss Galaxy UK in November.
Ms Hind won Miss Harrogate Galaxy last year to reach the UK final and although she didn’t place, she said the experience has made her more determined for this year.
The winner of Miss Galaxy UK will travel to the USA with contestants from all over the world to compete in the Miss Galaxy International final.
Ms Hind said she always wanted to compete in pageants but felt too anxious prior to lockdown. Stepping out on the stage has given her a huge boost in confidence, she added.
Her experiences with anxiety and dyslexia has encouraged her to start discussing the issues on social media.
She hopes to build her platform and talk openly about the challenges she’s faced ahead of the final in November:
“I want to show young children that dyslexia doesn’t have to hold you back, you still can do anything you want to do. If I can show one kid that then it’s worth it.”
Photograph: Brian Hayes Photography
It isn’t always crowns and ballgowns for Miss Hind: during the day she works at Sainsbury’s in Ripon.
The 23-year-old will also continue with her charity duties as Miss North Yorkshire by working with Ripon Food Bank, Saint Michael’s Hospice and Dogs for Good.
Last year, she walked in a Saint Michael’s Hospice fashion show, which raised over £7,000. Her Halloween party for Dogs for Good, which trains dogs to live as assistance dogs in people’s homes, raised £350.
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The Miss Galaxy UK final at the Park Hall Hotel in Lancashire consists of four rounds; an interview round, an evening wear round, a fashion wear round and a swimwear round.
The recent final in November 2021 saw Ms Hind compete against 58 other girls in the 18-27 age category.