Interview with Alex Evangelou – Miss Midlands 2020 Finalist

Firstly thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions about your pageant journey for my pageant lockdown blog, it’s been lovely getting to know fellow pageant queens and more about the systems that they represent.

What made you enter pageants ?

Back in 2017 I saw an advert on Facebook advertising miss Birmingham and I just knew I had to be a part of it. It was during a time of my life where I was in a very controlling and abusive relationship. I was excited to be a part of something amazing.

Can you tell us about your journey so far ?

I had been a Miss Birmingham 2018 finalist but had not got any titles from that. I left pageant life behind until I left my controlling partner and finally felt happy again. I am now a 2nd year social work student who is in a very happy and loving relationship. Back in 2018 I had made some amazing friends and witnessed AMY JONES become Miss Birmingham 2018 , I fell in love with the experience of it all and knew I had to return when the time was right.

What made you decide to compete in the Miss English System ?

I continued to follow Miss England on all social media platforms , watching every year who had won and all the work they had been doing and then this year I just knew the time was right. I was ready to compete again, I had re-gained my confidence.

What the best thing that pageants have taught you ?

It has taught me that it’s not all about beauty and looking the prettiest. It’s about caring for your community and striving to make it a better place.

What’s your pageant platform and why ?

My platform is abuse and children in need. I am a trainee social worker at university because I want to stop abuse. It’s a huge passion of mine, a passion to protect the vulnerable. Everyone has a right to be protected, loved and cared for.

What’s your dream title ?

My dream title is to become Miss Birmingham and then hopefully Miss England!

If you were to win Miss Birmingham what would it mean to you ?

It would mean everything to me! I would show all those girls who are not stick thin, those girls who where called names when they where younger and those girls who have been through abuse that we can do it. We are strong and we are united.

What’s the best advice you have for fellow pageant queens ?

Just be true to yourself, don’t be false and pretend to be someone your not. Be proud of who you are, personality and body.

What have you been doing in the run up to the final of Miss Birmingham?

I have been working very closely with the charity Elleforelle. Gaining awareness and donations for the charity, I had even been published in the oxford mail regarding my charity work. I have wrote a blog for elleforelle regarding my domestic past and how I have now recovered.

What’s your favourite ever appearance ?

Would be my first ever paper appearance which was the oxford mail appearance. I had received so many nice comments about the article and everyone had appreciated what I Have been doing for charity.

How has the lockdown due to COVID19 effected your pageant journey ?

Angie Beasley has been amazing with ensuring that Miss England can carry on but online. Everything has been pretty much the same but we have all been doing it from online and the comfort of our homes. Due to the virus we are not all able to drop our charity donations off to Elle for Elle therefore one of the Finalists for Miss Midlands has been nominated to assist in the drop offs for the donations we have all collected.

What makes a good pageant role model ?

Someone who focuses on others and not them selfs. They need to be a caring individual who has a passion and a drive to help others. They need to be hardworking and have a goal in life. My goal is to become a social worker, to be a role model and to be the first person in my family to go to university.

What’s your favourite pageant round ?

It is 1000% the charity round, raising awareness for many amazing causes and assisting them in there work.

How do you deal with pageant nerves ?

I like to talk to my other pageant girls while we’re waiting, all the positivity we all give each other and the love, we’re a huge family.

Thank you much for answering my questions it’s been lovely to get to know you and more about your platform. I wish you all the best at the Miss Birmingham finals. Much love Charlotte, Ms Diamond South Yorkshire 2020.