Doctor Saskia’s record votes in beauty pageant
A JUNIOR doctor has made it to the final of Miss England after receiving a record number of votes in the qualifying round despite never entering a beauty pageant in her life.
Saskia Fauguel, 27, said she “never dreamed” of being a beauty queen but she entered the famous competition after losing four stone and enjoying a “confidence boost”.
Despite having no pageant experience, Saskia recorded a staggering 27,000 votes in the qualifiers in order to fly through to the final, which is a red carpet event later in the year.
But she will have to juggle her competition obligations with a high-stress junior doctor role in the NHS, where she is about to begin the six-year process of becoming a psychiatrist.
Saskia, from Todmorden, said: “This isn’t something I ever dreamed of doing, I have never even entered a pageant before, but I saw the opportunity and thought, ‘why not?’ “I was aware of pageants when I was younger but I never dreamed of being in one myself, I never had the confidence to go for it until now, plus I was focusing on being a doctor.”
Miss England entrants ordinarily qualify through live heats; however, due to venues being closed because of coronavirus the process went digital for this year’s event.
Saskia submitted images and videos of herself, including an introduction, a catwalk and a talent video for the judges to watch, before being accepted as a wildcard.
She appeared on an app, along with other entrants, and was stunned to watch on as a whopping 27,000 votes went her way - more than anyone else in Miss England history.
The junior doctor, who has worked in West Yorkshire since graduating in 2019, says she was “shy” as a youngster and has struggled with her weight and mental health in the past.
However, Saskia’s fortunes began to turn in November last year when she embarked on a weight loss journey after finding out she had high bloody sugar levels.
Saskia’s changed lifestyle saw her weight plummet from 14st a down to just above 10st. She said she is “very excited” to see how far she can in the Miss England final, which will stage its final in Coventry on June 25.
I have never even entered a pageant before, but I saw the opportunity and thought, ‘why not?
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