Interview with Amy Parker – Miss Hertfordshire International 2020

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

What made you enter pageants?

Well it has to be watching misha girmes her vlogs of Galaxy U.K. and Internationals after watching them I spoke to people about them and they all started to encourage me into doing modeling and going and entering pageants which i thought I wasn’t ever pretty enough to be a pageant girl but since I entered galaxy in March I saw that it’s not true they accept you because you have a beautiful soul as well as a pretty face!

Can you tell us about your journey?

I was Miss Hertfordshire Galaxy and this was such a brillant opportunity to be able to show up and represent my county in this pageant and I loved making friends with all the girls also one of them I’ve even made future plans of holidays with I can not wait to see Darcy again she has beeen my rock during lockdown. I’ve loved showing up to places with my sash on to spread the word about Galaxy like my local woods or my local charity’s!

What made you decide to compete in your current system ?

What made me enter Miss International U.K. well since entering Galaxy and finding out about all these other opportunity’s there are in all these different systems I knew I wanted to stick with Holly’s systems and Miss International U.K. have always had my interest at heart being a finalist for the last month its already made a impact on my life and I can see the growth I have come since Galaxy I thought of all the amazing appearances I could make with this title if I was so lucky to win or even be a finalist I also had the push from Darcy to enter it like I tried to help push her for Miss Intercontinental which now she is a finalist for as wellwe stayed up till 2-3 if i can remember correctly debating it cause we both love Galaxy soooo much! but we took the leap and decided to do it which I’ve not regretted the slightest! I also plan on making this pageant all about my old friend Hazel as all my pageant dresses are her favourite colour ! Sadly Hazel passed away with cancer last summer I’ve had many friends and family sadly pass away with this and i have since decided on doing as much as I can to raise money for cancer by doing there runs every year which I may be unable to do this year but I have other plans !

What the best thing that pageants have taught you ?

Be grateful for that amazing experience and thankful for all the incredible girls you make friends with on your journey! Pageants aren’t always about the prettiest face in the room you have to have personallity as well ! be supportive no matter the out come!

What’s your pageant platform and why ?

My pageant platform is mental health as a young girl I went threw alot from bullying to rape it was a nightmare I had kept secret for many years about it all until one day it all became to much to hold in so what I want to do in the future is go to the school that I am able to go to and speak up about my experience and tell them there not alone as there are many other girls or even boys that have gone threw the same thing it’s a bad thing that kids feel the need to hide from telling people because they feel they’ll be the one in trouble and that is not the case I live with my rapest being in the family on a daily basis as he is my cousins boyfriend my whole family know about it but he still gets away with it with my cousins family and this is hard and I want reach out to people before they end up in my shoes and if they are then I wanna make sure they know I here for them!

What’s your dream title ?

My dream title has to be Miss International U.K. ! It would be a dream to achive somethingas big as Miss International U.K.! I would love to prove to people I was able to achive my dreams !

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

If I were to win it’d mean the world to me as I never ever thought I would achieve something as amazing as being Miss International U.K. as I just see myself as this little shy girl that isnt good enough but im trying to push my self out of my comfort zone and winning this pageant would mean I could and I could tell all the girls and boys who bullied me im better than you I achieved something that they never thought I could!

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

Be yourself dont put on a fake you as the judges dont care how goofy or silly you are they wanna see you be you and thats the best way to be !

What have you been doing in the run up to your pageant final ?

In the run up being in lockdown I’ve been trying to get involved with as many online appearances as I can and fundraise for chosen charity’s and skyping all the international girls! which is the most amazing thing! to chat with them all help each other out it is brilliant.

Favourite ever appearance ?

My all time favourite appearence has to be planting trees at northaw village park it was a enjoyable day and rewarding at the end as I helped improve the park!

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

It’s effected my journey as first I am unable to go to anywhere for public appearances which is a shame as I really wanted to do pretty muddy again! Its also has postponed but at least it is for the best as its for the safety of all the pageant girls as well as the people running it and for the audience!

What makes a good pageant role model ?

It has to be someone confident that tells you how it is and someone that is themselves and doesnt pretend to be someone else!

What’s your favourite pageant round ?

My favourite round has to be swimwear just saying watch out for my swimwear for Miss International U.K.

How do you deal with pageant nerves ?

Well last time for Galaxy I didn’t know how to deal with nerves cause I was new to the pageant world but now I have to say the way I’ve dealt with them for Miss International U.K. has to be that I’m super prepared than last time as I know what exactly is going on how the day goes and how chilled interveiw is now ! It isn’t as scary as I thought when I competed in Galaxy March 2020!

Thank you so much for sharing your story with me it’s very inspiring you should be incredibly proud about how far you have come. I wish you all the best at the final. Much Love Charlotte, Ms Diamond South Yorkshire 2020.