If my girl wants to be Miss World, I’ll support her all the way
When GEMMA PRITCHARD’s daughter started entering child beauty pageants, friends were quick to criticise. But Gemma, 38, believes the contests are empowering
AS I watched a row of little girls in frilly dresses curtsy in front of a panel of judges, I had to do a double take. I’d always thought child pageants were like the TV show Toddlers And Tiaras, with lashings of glitter and fake tan.
But here I was, watching my daughters take part in one and it was nothing like I thought it would be. Despite being a mum of two girls, Erin and Efa-Haf, ours wasn’t a very girly household. My husband Chris and I run a martial arts academy so the girls were more at home practising karate than dressing up.
But in 2013, when Efa was four, one of my students told me about the Carnival Queen competition in our home town, Caernarfon, north Wales. “Your Efa is such a little star, she would love it,” she said.
She was right about Efa’s bubbly personality.When she walks into a room she grabs everyone’s attention, she has a real sparkle.
The Carnival Queen sounded like fun and when I mentioned it to Erin, then six, and Efa, they were keen.We borrowed some pretty dresses from a friend and went along.
Chris, then 33, and I watched proudly as they both did a curtsy on stage.We were surprised and delighted when Efa was crowned Miss Petal, and Erin a runner-up.
There were no prizes, just a little trophy, but they both loved it so much that when we heard about another local Carnival Queen competition, we went along.
IN SUMMER 2015 one of the judges suggested entering the Mini Miss European Wales pageant.
There were two categories – fashion and evening/party wear. The girls would be judged on their personality, confidence and catwalk. I spent £50 and bought the girls a party dress, tartan skirts, blouses and a navy beret.
I was relieved that the rules forbid make-up and fake tan. Efa came runner-up and won a tiara and sash and we were all cheering.
Next came The Face of The Globe Pageant in Llanelli. It had a proper catwalk and required the girls to raise money for charity. They cleared out their old toys and clothes and raised £700.
Efa wore a glitzy pink calflength dress and Erin wore purple. The judges had a chat with each girl behind the scenes and scored them on that, how much money they had raised and how they looked on the catwalk.
Efa won her category and Erin won the ‘congeniality’ award – voted for by the other contestants.
I was so proud, as was Chris. But when I posted my delight on Facebook, some weren’t so receptive. “This is disgusting,” one person wrote. “You’re putting your daughter on stage to be judged on beauty.” I was furious.
“It’s not just about beauty,” I said. “The girls are learning so much from the experience.” And they were – from making friends, to raising money for charity, and being able to speak confidently in front of hundreds of people.
I’m happy to say I think I’ve changed people’s perspective on it. The local community has grown from two of my daughters doing pageants to about 40 girls. Now I hope people step back before making a judgment.
It’s not about one girl being prettier than another, I wouldn’t put my girls forward for that.
But the girls love them. Efa is truly hooked. She won Mini Miss European Wales in June 2016, then four months later was crowned Mini Miss European.
And when one of her friends told her that the winner of Young European Miss International won a trip to the USA, she begged to enter. I agreed, helping her with the charity fundraising.
I found her a dress online and paid to get it blinged up. I also bought an outfit for the fashion round, as well as white sequin trousers, a blue halterneck, a red bow and shoes that she wore for the Red,White and Blue round. In total I spent more than £400.
When she was announced as the winner I couldn’t hold back the tears. Next stop would be Houston, Texas.
For the next seven months Efa continued her charity work and chose her dresses. This included a yellow one decorated with 150 daffodils to represent Wales.
This time she had her hair done beforehand and was allowed to wear make-up and paint her nails. I spent about £1,000. In June this year the two of us flew to Houston.At the pageant she was asked to describe herself in three words.With a cheeky smile, she replied: “Bubbly, because I like making people laugh. Charming, I’m polite and well-mannered.And caring, because if I see someone upset I’ll be the first to cheer them up.”
She was crowned the winner and given the title of Young American Junior Miss International. When we returned home two days later she couldn’t wait to take her crown and sash to show her friends. Then it was back to normal life. Practising her martial arts, learning the harp, dancing and doing schoolwork. And when they can, the girls watch Miss World on YouTube. Efa told me recently that she wants to win MissWorld when she’s 18.
I’ve probably spent about £2,000 in total over the past four years but we’ve raised almost £40k for various charities.
The pageants aren’t just about looks, they’re about building confidence and social skills and teaching girls to be proud of what they can achieve. And if becoming Miss World when she’s 18 is what she wants, I’ll be right there with her when she wins the crown.
Follow Gemma and Efa’s story on DRYCH: Tu ôl i’r Tiaras (translated Behind The Tiaras) on S4C this Sunday at 9pm.