The big pageant debate- What does your title mean to you?

(My first EVER pageant, there's future Miss Swindon Jade in the back too hehe)

When I first entered the pageant world I had no idea how many different pageants there could be. Pageants are really as big here in the UK compared to America which is a shame, only now is the UK learning all about these amazing pageants. So I entered my local regional heat Miss Wiltshire where the team scouted for local talent in and around Wiltshire. All the girls had links to WIltshire, being born there, attending college, working here and they all wanted the same thing, to wear that crown and make Wiltshire proud. I didnt win my first pageant, but become runner up Miss Wiltshire 2010, Miss Popularity 2010 and got the massive bug for pageants!

(Front page of the Adver- once the local town found out there was more than one Miss Swindon!)

From that moment on I truly had the pageant bug, that feeling of walking on stage, owning it and showing everyone who doubted you at school, the bullies, the ex's that said you could never do it, all of them wrong. It was your moment on stage and I loved every minute. What I learned was to truly be a role model and exceptional queen, you needed to put A LOT of hard work in. It wasn't just being on stage for those precious minutes. It was the hard work behind it, the days spent in the cold fundraising for charity, all the emails and letters to the papers, companies to sponsor you and donate to your charity causes. Also there were the outfits, most pageants have an eco or creative round so it was finding the recycled material, spending your time sewing and gluing! 

(Representing Swindon at the Miss Galaxy finals)

I've represented Swindon in various pageants, from the finals at Galaxy to winning Miss Swindon in Miss England after competing for the second time round. I've represented Wiltshire in the Miss Earth national finals and also the UK's dazzling beauty finals where I became 1st runner up. I've even been lucky enough to represent England at Europe's Perfect Miss and will be representing England at the international finals for Face of the Globe this year. I'm very proud of everything i've achieved throughout the years of doing pageants but what means the most to me is that every title I have won have been my own county, where i have been born and raised and therefore been able to give back to my community. 

(abseiling from the county ground in 2011, I did this again in 2013 from an even higher place!!)

I think as a titleholder you should be proactive with your title, what it says on your sash YOU now represent.You should be making a name for the title and yourself by helping the community, running events, being involved and helping out. I may have had a busy work and study life but throughout my pageant "career" I have always maintained a level where I can help out in my town. I've organised my own events, done charity runs, hikes, hoopathons, zumbathons, absailed down tall buildings, gone pit collecting, donated time to the shops and clothing, helping out the other beauty queens and attending vital calender events in the community like the Swindon Mela, Swindon Pride and the Old town festival.

(Competing at the Miss English Beauty finals 2012, the first time I placed at a National final as 2nd runner up)

I wouldn't dream of representing another county because why should I? If I can't physically be there at their big events, get them involved in my charity events and really make them proud then I see the title as a fraud. Granted if you actually work hard to make appearances for the title then fair play but you are taking away from the girls who actually want to do well for their community just so you can advance to the final. Girls who earn the crown have my resepct, girls who take the crown and leave it to gather dust after all the photos are taken are ones that put the pageant circuit to shame

(Wiltshire beauty queens in 2012, I'm represetning England here at a local Swindon wedding fayre)

This is why the news doesnt shock me which has been circutlating around the internet and papers, found here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/10721899/Row-as-Miss-Hampshire-lives-in-Middlesex.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26728769

This is about hte new Miss Hampshire who is actually not from Hampshire. THis is the rule that allows girls to enter within a 50 mile radius. I understand the girls frustration, last year in my last year competing in Miss England, our Miss Wiltshire heat was opened up so anyone could compete from around England. THis is turn lead us Swindon and Wiltshire girls to feel a bit betrayed and angry, why should we have to compete with pageant queens who have already become runner's up and have a place in the semi finals already. The winner advanced to the finals which was why she was at Miss Wiltshire in the first place, but then has done nothing around Wiltshire to this day. Of course I could be the jaded runner up and moan my head about the injustice, fair is fair she won on points and I will never take that away from a girl. What you do on the night is all up to you and if someone beats you, you just need to try harder next time. But the reason I copete is not to get to the finals, that is a bonus! It's to represent my title, I think it should be a rule that a queen has to do a minimum amount of appearances in the town/county they are representing within a certain time scale, if they fail to complete the easiest task then their title should be stripped and given to the first runner up and so forth. Pageant organisers want someone who will be an ambassador for their pageant, what's the point in handing someone a title if they are not going to use it. That just makes the industry to be looking at just taking girls money and being away with it. There are girls who want to help, who want to wear their sash and crown and be proud. These are the girls who work for it, travel many miles if they do not live there, who take their time to talk to the press rather than ignore them. These are the true pageant queens, regardless of how high their title is and what pageant. 

(What pageants are about, meeting new friends, having fun and working for that title)

Pageants should be what you make of it, I've made millions of friends, got so many contacts that I've been able to get the job I love and to be able to help others in doing so. All through representing MY county. Would love to know your views on this all, get back to me!!

x <3 x

Hannah- Team England FOTG

Follow me on twitter: Englandperfectm

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Searching for the next Miss Wiltshire, with some Hoops thrown in

(Wiltshire Beauty Queens at Kiss Gyms, reunited again!)

So it's getting to that time of year again, the Miss Wiltshire finals! Last weekend saw the reunion of the original Wiltshire Beauty Queens. Since I am the only one living in Swindon, it's hard to meet up with the girls and catch up, especially Ruth who lives hours away so what better way to meet up running the competition where we all met! We held the first auditions at my workplace, Kiss Gyms where the contestants will also be put through their paces at the Pageant Bootcamp where one lucky girl will be fast tracked to the Top Ten at the final! So putting in that hard work pays off!!

(Myself, Ela and Georgia)

It's strange sitting on the other side of the table as the judge, you have to ask the questions, look for the criteria which as a pageant queen you perfect yourself on, coming up with different answers, showing off your personality and of course your smile!! Of course a lot of the girls at regionals have never done a pageant before so hopefully put at ease since we have all gone through it! Excited to see the next lot of contestants and then who makes it to the final! It's an amazing opportunity girls, you won't regret it, it's literally life changing!! 

(Messing around with Georgia, sashed up as always)

It was great to see the girls again and even go to show them a few hoop tricks, which Georgia kept up for two seconds and Ruth flashed her pants! Speaking of Hoops, my 25 hour challenge is THIS Friday! I'll be teaching 4 classes as well this day, so no sleep and then work afterwards, I'm going to die!!! But it's all for a good cause, you can donate here:

http://www.justgiving.com/25hoopathon

I am also looking for sponsorship for the Face of the Globe International finals in October, as you can see from my nice shiny sash that I am representing England! This is an exciting part in my pageant career as this will be the first international pageant I have competed in so if anyone can donate I would be so grateful, also there are tons of advertisement bonuses to it!! 

Lots of love

Hannah

International Face of The Globe Finlaist- Team England

Follow me on Twitter: EnglandPerfectM

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Return of the blog

 Ok guys, so I have been REALLY busy since my last blog setting up my own business of Beauty and the Beast Personal Training but I am back, writing blogs and what not with my title of International Finalist for Face of the Globe 2014- Team England!! (With a nice shiney sash to complete the look!)

 (Brunel Wedding Fayre-Jan 14)

Ok so what have I been doing all these months with my title apart from trying to scout the next Miss Wiltshire, fit in training and my clients and doing various charity events.... well let me start with the good old wedding fayre! Yes 2014 has been the year of the wedding dress for the beauty queen (ironic for me in a bittersweet moment haha). So in January myself and the other Wiltshire Beauty Queens got to model at the Brunel Centre in some gorgeous dresses. Unfortunately the dress company did not cater to my ahem curves so sadly I didn't get to wear the sparkly dresses that had been hand selected, i got the slightly retro vintage gowns. But a pageant queen never falters on what could've been, instead rock that different look. Also it was great to catch up with my queen sisters again! 

(Group shot with Heart FM Ben and Kristy- Never a serious pose with our sashes!)

You would think that weekend would be enough but no, two weeks after the fun of the first wedding fayre, me and Miss Swindon sister Jade modelled together at another wedding fayre, this time at the Marriott hotel. Once again my different sizes (I'm a pear shape and am an 8, 10 and 12 but aren't most woman different sizes to the norm fit?) meant I could only wear one dress as I hadn't the time for dress fittings but this dress was stunning! I was very happy to walk on the catwalk this time, with my new hair cut from JJ Hair |group which I will go into more detail with later. 

 (Jade and Myself after the catwalk- Feb 14)

I love wedding fayres, you get to have your hair and make up done, chose beautiful gowns and walk like a princess for the day, just like a pageant. And the bonus is you're not getting tied to a lifetime commitment!! So onto that haircut now. So I was lucky enough to be selected as a hair model for JJ's Hair Group, starting with the L'orell Hair Trophy Colour Comp in which hairdressers all over the country compete to win a trip to New York and be on the front cover of Elle with their hair style. Now most pageant girls have the long, flowing hair and my hair was growing back to that style after cutting it last year just before Europe's Perfect Finals. Well like I say all the time, I'm not the typical pageant girl so when she said it will be short and different, I was just like go ahead! I like different and its's something I wouldn't chose and lots of maintenance but it's a great style! It was then coloured, keeping with the red tones and then we had a great photoshoot. I can't show you the images just yet until they announce if we have made it through to the semi's or not but I can show you a backstage shot!

(After shooting with the wind machine!)

The shoot was fun and really good to get back in front of the camera again! Got lots planned for that including a Disney Princess shot with one of my main sponsors CMG Photography. So once again it was back in a wedding dress for Rachel's Wedding;s wedding fayre, who have kindly sponsored me my finals dress for the Face of the Globe finals. It was such a tiring day since I had worked the night before, but I was with my Miss Swindon sister again and we got to wear a brides and bridesmaid dress and show the others how it was done. Also met a great young girl who looks to enter the Miss Swindon contestant. 

(At Rachel's WEdding Fayre at the Holiday Inn, Coate. Sashed Up!)

Ok so that's alot of wedding fayres!! I have also been helping organise the next Miss Wiltshire. AS you all know I have been involved in the Miss WIltshire heats for several years, from judging to competing. It was the first pageant I competed in back in 2010 and where I fell in love with the pageant scene. This time I will be presenting the finals with a gorgeous gown from Dragonflies which I know at least none of the girls competing will be wearing the same gown! (Every pageant girls's nightmare!). I have also been helping scouting, finding some beautiful girls (inside and out, we want personality not just looks). The auditions will be held THIS Saturday at Kiss Gyms from 12-3, open invite if you think you have what it takes! Wear a red top and dazzle us!! I will also be holding the bootcamp section where a lucky girl who wins the bootcamp will be going straight through to the Top Ten, as my Beauty and the Beast Boot Camp winner! The next Miss Wiltshire needs to be fit and strong as well, and I will help the winners along the way!

(Scouting on Sunday, in my new Face of the Globe Sash)

As well as all this, myself and Heather (another trainer at Kiss Gyms) will be doing a 25 HOUR hoopathon at Kiss Gyms on the 28th March for Prospect Hospice! Yes us Kiss trainers don't do things by half!! You can donate here http://www.justgiving.com/25hoopathon or if you see me give me your money! The adver came and took some hoop pictures (Im currently battling through fever and the dreaded cold so fingers crossed they pick the nicest one!). Well that is all y'all caught up on the pageant world of this Wiltshire Beauty Queen!! Hope you have enjoyed reading and make sure you donate! Will keep you updated!!

(Adver pics of the hoopathon to come!)

x <3 x

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Bootcamp, New projects and a new home for Beauty and The Beast PT

(Fitness bootcamp style, all about the push ups!)

Spending your typical Saturday running around fields with tires, lugging kegs all around Swindon and doing as many circuit style fitness as you can within 5 HOURS, yes not one hour but 5 hours! It may not appeal to some people but this was a special event to raise money for SANDS, a charity which helps locals here in Swindon dealing with Stillborn births. Myself and Ayo, Miss Sussex GB decided to take the plunge and half way through the first hour I have Ayo screaming, "This was your idea!!". It was challenging, it was tough but it was worth it! The bootcamp took place at Mike Buss's Fitness Centre, ran by Mike Buss, ex army and a helper of many charities. He put us through our paces and shouted in bootcamp style!

(Swindon Advertiser)

The bootcamp even made the papers and raised alot of money which will go towards a new ward at the GWH for mothers dealing with traumas such as these. I'm glad we did the bootcamp, but did not love the stinging nettles canal walk which finished it off, stings everywhere!! In true beauty queen style there had to be a signature pose at the end to prove we had lasted 5 hours. My pictures are never serious haha

(Sit ups on tyres anyone!)

Then I spent the whole week competing in PT Idol at Kiss Gyms. THis was a talent search for the next personal trainer at Kiss Gyms, who would win a spot on the team. We had long hours, filled with talking to clients, developing our personal skills, writing our own business plan as well as teaching some of the classes that Kiss Gyms run (free of charge I may add!). I took spin and Kiss of Death. I've never really liked spin, seeing it as something that didn't benefit me but i took a couple of classes to see what it was like and then teaching it. wow. sweat was everywhere! It was such great fun, getting a good reaction out of everyone taking part and seeing that they had a good workout. By interviews on Friday, the nerves had kicked in but surely with all my pageant experience with interviews, speaking on stage and what not, this should be a blast! It was tough, very tough but I got across what I wanted to do and why Kiss was the gym I wanted Beauty and the Beast Personal Training to be at!

(The PT Idol tops)

The competition was just as good but I had an email the next day and am happy to announce that I WON Pt Idol! One of the best things that I have won, and will be personal training at Kiss Gyms! This was what I set out to do back in April when I took the plunge to undertake training to become a personal trainer. I remember talking to one of the trainers about maybe doing the course but I didn't have the right time, money etc and he told me how little he had when he was training but he bite the bullet and did it. I did the same. No more childcare, enrolled a week later on the personal training course at T2 Fitness and worked my way to becoming a qualified PT. Kiss was the only place I wanted to train. Also being my sponsors in the past I have worked well with them, and also a great place to start any conversation,"Yes, I work at Kiss Gyms, I'm on the building, come take a look!". I can not wait to start training and getting the name Beauty and the Beast Personal Training out there and thanking everyone so so much for everything on this journey!!

(My new home)

This week is all about training for my other new job at Carphone warehouse whilst doing lots of research into different fitness exercises and ways to better my knowledge, as well as plan for mine and Ayos's charity fitness day, the Swindon half marathon on sunday and writing up a business plan for our charity! Yes, that's right, the Wiltshire Beauty Queens are starting their own charity up!! Watch this space for more details! :)

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Quite possibly the best day of my pageant life!

(In the away kit in the County Ground)

Pageants have given me so much in my life. They have given me friends, the best friends which I can hang around with doing normal things, making appearances and going on holiday to have the ultimate girls week away. They have given me confidence to be able to talk to strangers, to work in promotions and to give me something different on my CV. They have given me the chance to make something of myself in the community, by helping and organising charity events, appearing in the local and national papers to modeling for different companies and making my own, Beauty and the Beast Personal Traing. It takes alot of dedication, and sometimes it is a thankless job. We spend hours in the rain and the cold, emailing and calling hundreds for sponsorships with nothing in return but then there are days like this day where I thank my lucky stars I never gave up! 

(Miss Swindon Sisters)

Swindon hosted Chelsea in the Capital One Cup at our very own County Ground. This was one of Swindon's biggest matches in over 20 years! And us Miss Swindon sisters were invited to spend the whole day and night at the County Ground. Jade is working alot with Swindon Town FC throughout the year and I am so proud that she has made these connections. I have been involved with Swindon Town during my previous reins, from modeling for them on their kit launch to spending the day at their big day out, meeting all the players. But this day, just supasses anything I have done! We were given our own kits, Jade wore home and I wore away and we had a nice tour, then helped with the Free Kicks for Kids which was so sweet. This is in association with Samsung who run these all over the country, we have one here in Swindon which is great for youth football! 

(In the home dug out!)

We spent the rest preparing the tables, talking to the chairman and generally having a snoop around whilst having our pictures taken by the dad's wanting their sons to have a picture with the two Miss Swindon's. We were then asked to come onto the pitch with all of the players, which was being shown LIVE on Sky Sports 2. To say we were literally screaming with happiness was an understatement but we showed our cool well, well until they were out of sight!!!

(Holding the cup!!)

We quickly redid our makeup to calm down, then were given our flags and waited in the dug out, the other samsung crew walked around the pitch whilst we were told to stay in the dug out. Thank goodness we did, we got to meet EVERYONE!! Torres, Eto, Terry, one called us queens and jose had a conversation, starting with "Hello ladies...". We just looked at each other like wow, is this actually happening!!!

(waving the samsung flag)

Then it was the time to go onto the pitch in front of nearly 15,000 fans waving the flags. Then they all came past, and I even got on the telly!! I had told everyone to try and record it, pictures just in case and the camera was panning alongside the chelsea players and there I was!! We then left the pitch and sat in our front row seats for an exciting game!! Swindon held their own, just such a shame Chelsea got two lucky goals in the first half. They played great football! We were invited to go on at half time to join the mascots penalty shoot out and a sweet little girl got upset so it was miss swindon's to the rescue to comfort her. 

(on the telly!)

We changed at half time from our kits and watched the rest of the match, as well as afterwards help hand out games to the mascots and even got asked for our autographs! We then went to the VIP lounge and chilled with some of the players and the directors with a rose before leaving, almost 12 hours later. We had the best day ever at the county ground, and show's that some people do care about pageants. We were treated with respect and treated well, and were invited back to watch the next Swindon home game, this time we have the tops to watch!! 

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The new additions to the Wiltshire Beauty Queens

Drinking one of The Core's Fab Juices, Super Greeeeen!)

September is always a busy month for a beauty queen. I remember last year us Wiltshire beauty queens had two to three appearances a week! And I had a pageant final! Those were the days! It's a lot calmer since both Ela and Ruth don't live nearby, plus Georgia is nearly due to give birth! Time flies! But i'm still here, no babies, moving away or men, just pageants and new business ventures! Which means the Wiltshire Beauty Queens (hashtag) is feeling a little lonely, but never fear as the new generation are in!! Before this new meet, I was invited to The Core's new relaunch where there was live music, juices and healthy food everywhere! I love The Core as it's founded on such a good ethos, and the memory of Tami is still going strong, she would be so proud guys! Kris and the team have made it THE place to go, hip and healthy!! I love their smoothies (although my fav breakfast on the go has gone, sad face!) and juices, and it's a great way to fill up on your 7 a day!! It's so colourful too! Can't wait to see all the developments they have in store, and not leaving it so long this time! You can't miss it guys, it's the big green building in Old Town!!

(New additions to the Wiltshire Beauty Queens!)

Now back to the new pageant queens. Well our new Miss Swindon isn't a newbie as such, but will defo be more involved. And it's always great to see her smiling face again!!! But we have Ayo, who has moved to Swindon to work. We had been talking before the Mela and as soon as I met her I knew we would get on so well! We all met at the Mela, where I got lost trying to find them all. As soon as I did, it was an interview for Swindon 105.5 and then meeting alot of the stall owners. We had a great chat about potentially setting up our own charity and going to London for a photoshoot for some promotional work, exciting! Also a new cooking class, where we will get to make lots of exciting new foods! Can not wait for that!! :) We also had an amazing curry, and saw Miss Wiltshire 2011 my queen sister Jo! I love that events like the Swindon Mela and Swindon Pride bring together everyone, such great community events!! Afterwards me and Ayo went shopping and boy can that girl shop!!! haha

(Previous years at the Swindon Half Marathon)

Other events coming up in September are meetings with Swindon Bourough Council, Photoshoots and also a charity Bootcamp this sunday which will be great for whipping us into shape! I also found out that I've won free entry into the Swindon Half Marathon, thanks to my addiction to Twitter! I've done the Swindon Half Marathon for two years, in 2011 I ran it as a twister mat then 2012 i did the fun run with Miss Wiltshire Galaxy dressed as a superhero! So what is the next costume or do i do serious PT and run in running gear! I must start training as it's been a long time since i've ran!! But I love a challenge! Ayo will be running with me so we will start running together, maybe a quick dash through the shops will help our training!! Still looking for sponsors for the Face of the Globe comp, email me at Hannahgolding@ymail.com if you are interested or want more information!! Also my new PT website is now live at www.beautyandthebeastpt.co.uk so check it out!! And also on twitter at PTBeautybeast, and facebook!! 

(Beauty and the Beast PT website live!!)

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Dreamboys, Pageant coaching, and beauty and the beast is born!

(Miss Charity Heart, Dreamboy, Me and my sash!)

It's been a busy couple of weeks for me here at Beauty and the Beast HQ!! I've qualified as a personal trainer and opened my own personal training business called Beauty and the Beast training, i've been training for the finals, helping other queens with their pageants and trying to find a sponsor for the finals! But let me fill you in on all the details!

So Miss Charity Heart thought it was about time for a girlie night out, and what better way to celebrate than see the Dreamboys in Swindon. We had a meet and greet where our mouths just dropped and hot flushes! But like true queen style it was straight to the food, hey Georgia is eating for two!! ;) Then we sat down for a very interesting show, not for the light hearted!! The guys were amazing dancers, entertaining and fun and had the crowd going (for the innocent readers) and for the not so innocent readers, let's just say it was man power!! But i enjoyed spending some quality time with one of my best friends Georgia, who I met through pageants!! And always enjoy being in the car with her when we go past Kiss Gyms, "That's us on the building, look it's meee!". Hehe

(Beauty and the Beast Personal Training is born! Copyright CMG Photography)

So as I said, I passed my level 3 Personal Training with T2 Fitness and am now a qualified Personal Trainer! I'm so excited! After the PERFECT Finals's in March, I discussed with my trainer about becoming a personal trainer, and never would I thought of giving up my nursery job and embarking on these training courses! It went from a dream to a reality! I am now a trained personal trainer ready to train!! I love that I have my pageant background to bring to my raining. I want to help people gain the confidence to be able to do whatever they want in their lives, from walking on that stage like I do, to outshining everyone at work, being the star player on the field to standing out in the club. Whatever the goal, whatever the dream, I want to help!

(Pageants and weights, go hand in hand!!)

I've also been selected as one of 6 new personal trainers to compete in the PT Idol comp at Kiss Gyms, to win a place as a personal trainer on their team!This is very exciting for me, especially as I am the only girl so I need to step up my game! This beauty queen will have that space! I can't wait to start! Other events happening this month is the Swindon Mela which myself, Miss Swindon and a new addition to our Wiltshire Beauty Queen family Ayo. Ayo has competed in Miss Galaxy with our Miss Wiltshire Galaxy Georgia and the Miss Earth finals with 2012 Miss Wiltshire Ruth, wearing the gorgeous Sherri Hill red gown! We will be taking her under our wing and helping her with appearances, pageant pages and the blog! Welcome girl!  

(Break the Stereotype)

My fab images were taken by CMG Photography who once again has done an amazing job! Check out her website- www.cmgphotographyltd.com. Also can't wait to shoot again with the last two Miss Swindon's for a Miss Swindon Shoot! And some funky images, get creative!!

(More images for the website)

So my journey isn't very long until the Face of the Globe finals, and i still need a sponsor or I wont be competing! If anyone knows anyone willing to donate, please get in contact! Not long now, and great INTERNATIONAL exposure! I'm so excited! Disneyland! Creating my halloween costume which will be disney themed but also scary! Well I better log off and get some beauty sleep, programmes to write, sponsors to find and ad space to sell for FLIC Wiltshire. Thank you for reading! Til next time!

Hannah <3

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