Bullies called me Ugly Betty at school... now I’m a beauty queen like mum & gran
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watching. As well as having a professional presenter in a dinner suit and judges, there was also the mayor and mayoress attending too. It was all professionally run and a big day for the city.
“For me back then it was for looks and personality and that’s what would make you win, as they had to choose the right kind of person who would then go to the events and functions.
“But they did always choose girls who were from all walks of life.
“When I went to watch Helaina, I realised there are so many new rounds.
“There is now an ecofriendly round and they have to make an outfit and describe why they made the outfit.
“There is also a sports round in today’s pageant, whereas there was nothing like that
for me. The contestants now also don’t have to do the swimsuit if they don’t want to, whereas when I did them you had to wear one.
“But back then no one wore a bikini, it was a swimsuit and it was covered, nothing revealing like you sometimes get today. It brings back a lot of memories when I watch
Helaina compete.”
Helaina’s gran June made her mark on the fashion world back in the 1950s.
Hour-glass figures
– accentuated by fit and flare dresses and pencil skirts – were the order of the day.
Helaina loves to hear tales from June and Wendy’s modelling past.
She goes on: “It’s really special to follow in mum’s footsteps.
“I would love to do a catwalk with her. I tell her she should enter again, but she just wants to watch me instead.
“I know my grandma is proud too, whenever we talk about it she is so happy. It is more of a hobby that I do it in my spare time. I think pageants are so much fun and you meet so many different girls and make so many friends.
“I am making the most of my time as Miss Bolton and utilising my platform as Miss Bolton and as a Miss Great Britain finalist.
“I am supporting the charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People to raise awareness for the deaf and hard of hearing.
“I have also been learning British sign language since 2018.”
And for the bullies who teased her, Helaina has just one comment.
“I feel like I had the last laugh,” she says.
Following in footsteps of my
mum is really special for me
Miss Great Britain is open to all women, of any marital status, 18+ with no upper age limit. It has three divisions – Miss, Ms & Ms Classic Great Britain.