Jordaya hoping pageant can help her beat anxiety
CONTESTANT
MISS TEEN GB
AIMS TO BUILD
A 15-YEAR-OLD girl is tackling her anxiety head-on by entering a pageant.
Jordaya Starr has been shy all her life and has suffered panic attacks so serious her family thought she had serious heart problems.
She said she hated being looked at and feared being judged, but that is exactly what will be happening when she takes part in the Miss Teen Great Britain contest later this year.
Jordaya, who lives in Glen Parva, said: “I get really bad anxiety just knowing people are seeing me and think they’re judging me.
“At the pageant in October I’ll be representing Leicester and people will really be looking at and judging me.
“I think doing it will encourage me to be more confident and help me get over my social anxiety.”
Jordaya took part in a small fashion show a few months ago, walking along the catwalk in front of about 100 people, and she felt it helped her take a step forward in conquering her fears.
She said: “That was about 100 people in a room. Miss Teen Great Britain is going to be at least 500.”
The Countesthorpe Academy pupil said: “Two years ago, I started having my first real heart palpitations and had to go to hospital. I was told it was my anxiety.
“At school I would be standing in line to get my lunch and there would just be so many people in line behind me I couldn’t stand it and I’d just leave – I missed quite a few lunches.
“I couldn’t ever put my hand up in class, either. I have a fear of people laughing at me. I often used to have to walk out of lessons because my heart was going too quickly.”
Jordaya’s mum, Lisa Thrower, said she was amazed her daughter was taking on the challenge.
She said: “I’m excited she’s doing this. It’s making her come out of her shell.
“I think she’s a bit worried about it, but usually she would never set herself up to do something like this.
“When she was young she was very shy and a few years ago when she started getting the heart palpitations we were very worried – we went to hospital a few times.
“It’s hard enough being a teenager anyway, but when you have anxiety, and lockdown on top of all that, it’s very hard.
“During lockdown she stayed in when her friends all went
out together and it was very hard for her.”
When asked if she thought she would still be determined to attend the October pageant nearer the time, Jordaya said: “I’m certain I’m going to do it.
“I’ve had moments when I think, ‘I can’t do this.’ In a way I don’t want to go through with it, but I will.”
I’ve had moments when I think, ‘I can’t do this’. In a way I don’t want to go through with it, but I will
Jordaya