How did you get into the beauty pageants?

 

Lisa: I was attending my local Slimming World club one evening when Josie Millward, who later became Miss Teen Crown & Glory UK 2015/16, came in wearing her sash, selling raffle tickets for charity. I really didn’t know anything at all about beauty pageants, but thought Josie was a genuinely lovely girl, and liked the fact that her title required her to do something for charity. I thought to myself:- “I’m sure Georgia would enjoy doing that, and raising money for charity would be good for her character, too.” When I got home, I asked Georgia about it, and she was very keen indeed! The first pageant she competed in was Miss Teen Inspiration in South Wales. She didn’t place anywhere, but we both realised we didn’t know what we were doing! We hadn’t done enough research, hadn’t made enough appearances, and took all the wrong kind of outfits! Lol! But it was a great learning curve! On the train on the way home, far from being disappointed, Georgia said:- “Mum, I’ve had the most amazing weekend. I’ve made so many friends and had so much fun. Can I do another one, please?” The next pageant Georgia entered was Miss Junior Teen Great Britain. This time, we paid for pageant coaching from Rachael Tate of the Pageant Coaching Academy, Georgia did dozens of appearances, and raised hundreds of pounds for charity. And she also chose more appropriate outfits. She placed in the top 7 of 41 contestants, which she was over the moon with! Then her third pageant was Miss Teen Crown & Glory UK, which of course she won, as well as best in interview, best in fashion wear, best in evening wear, most appearances made, and most money raised for charity – the result of being very, very busy, and working very hard. 100% commitment and dedication is definitely the key!

 

What did you do in the run up to the national finals?

 

Lisa: In the run up to the finals, every weekend was taken up with appearances. This included lots of different activities – from helping in the community, by doing organised litter picks, volunteering to work at the local stables, donating food to the local food bank; to more glamorous appearances, eg attending pageants and food festivals; to raising money for Dean’s Journey by a sponsored Santa Dash, tombola stalls, raffles, car boot sales, and Clothes for Cash. My car was constantly full of donations of clothes, toys and books, to either sell or donate to charity shops. And our dining table too! It wasn’t clear for months in the run up to the finals! Even the window-cleaner commented! Lol!

 

How did you feel during Crown & Glory UK 2016?

 

Lisa: I think I was far more nervous than Georgia! I was literally shaking like a leaf! She had worked so, so hard that I was desperate for her to be rewarded, and I knew that she REALLY, REALLY wanted to win Crown & Glory. She put her all into it.   

 

How did you feel when your daughted was called as the winner?

 

Lisa: I just could not believe it! I was sooo proud of her, but what was lovely was when I saw her face, it became obvious that it had meant far more to her than I realised. I hadn’t seen her that happy and excited for a long time. Winning that crown meant the world to her, and so it did to me, too.

 

Any tips for preparing?

 

Lisa: It was really important that Georgia updated her appearance folder as she went along, otherwise it would have been such a rush to get her photos printed, and words written up. A big tip from me would be to set up a Facebook page with your finalist title, eg. Georgia Kaye Edwards – Miss Teen Crown & Glory Flintshire. That way, you can be promoting yourself and your charity before you even get to the finals. Also, think about hiring evening wear instead of purchasing – that way, you can have a very expensive dress at a fraction of the cost. Georgia hired her evening wear for all three pageants.

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What are your ambitions and plans for the future?

 

Lisa: As part of Georgia’s prize, she is a finalist in Teen Face of Europe & the World to be held in Disneyland Paris in May 2017. She is really looking forward to that, and is already busy preparing. She is starting Performing Arts College in September, where she will study a Level 3 Diploma in Performing Arts, including, Dance, Drama, and Music, which together with the pageants, should give her a lot more confidence to fulfil her ambition of becoming a model and actress. She already holds 2 contracts with modelling and casting agencies, and is appearing as an extra on CBBC’s The 4 ‘o’ clock Club. She also recently won the title of Model Search UK’s Teen Top Model UK, which should give her some additional modelling and acting work. Georgia is keen to continue raising money for Dean’s Journey after meeting him and his family at the finals, and is holding a charity pageant in aid of Dean’s Journey in Flintshire, North Wales, on 8th October.