Interview with Ms Middlesex Galaxy – Jessica Barclay

What made you enter pageants ?

To start with it was simply a tick box exercise to stick on my personal trainer profile. But after I watch the live finals on the first night I was hooked. I applied again for the next year to do it properly thinking that was it and I would then become a supporter only. It became clear pageants were in my soul. I applied again for the third time in 2017 only to get pregnant and have to pull out. I returned in 2020 for the Ms age group. My 4th pageant and my third Galaxy. This time I had a plan and a purpose. Now I enter to have a deadline to hit certain goals. I enter to promote my platform of Goal Getters – helping women who feel stuck to achieve their goals. I enter to have a loud voice for charity fundraising. I enter to inspire others. I enter to promote pageants and all the amazing skills they teach women. I enter to grow my self love and confidence. I enter for the family community and the sparkles. I enter to have a positive focus in my life. I also enter because it gives me great ideas for the podcast.

What are your previous titles or placements?

I placed top 10 at Miss Galaxy England 2016 and 2nd Runner up at Ms Galaxy UK 2020.

What systems have you previously competed in?

Galaxy 2015, 2016 & 2020 Inspiration 2015

What made you decide to compete in your current system ?

It was the first system I competed in. I love the chosen charity The Christie. I love the family feel to Galaxy and the company that runs it so professionally.

What the best thing that pageants have taught you?

There’s so much, but the long running theme is the importance of being myself. It’s become my personal and podcast tag line – “You sparkle your brightest when you are being yourself.”

What’s your pageant platform and why ? My platform is Goal Getters. Its aim is to help you take your goals from dreams to reality with actionable steps. During the COVID-19 crisis, Goal Getters is providing simple daily goals as part of the Daily Goals Challenge. Its aim is to help you feel productive and have some focus during this crazy time, while hopefully developing some new positive habits, that will later help you with a future big goal. As part of the Goal Getters mission, I offer free goal-setting workshops that usually last an hour. Obviously right now these are only available as virtual sessions. If you want to arrange a group online workshop then please get in contact.

I am also working on a long-form version on the workshop that will go into much more detail and will include a variety of video sessions and PDF downloads. This free online course will be my pageant legacy project and I hope it will help to change the world, one goal at a time.

What’s your dream title ?

Ms or Mrs Galaxy. My partner and I have been together a long time and have a daughter but with pageants and work we haven’t had time to jump from Ms to Mrs.

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

I’m not scared to admit how much I want this. Not just for myself but the good I know I can do with it. People listen more when you have a big title. My platform, my fitness journey, my charity work and all the help I give with the podcast deserve to be heard. I’ve worked so hard for this already and I will continue to work hard. I use a queens mentality when I am competing. I don’t need a title to do great things but it would have a greater impact.

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

Listen to the Pageant Land Podcast. I share everything I have learnt and bring on guest expects, queens and other contestants to share all they know.

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

I’m in my early stages of planning for 2021. With the crisis it’s a very tricky time. I will mainly use my outfits from last time with a few tweaks. For now I’m working on my platform and podcast online. Booking future appearances and planning my charity events. I will be doing The Big Parent Event I have fun before and running at The Chessington World of Adventures Running Wild event. I’m keeping my fitness up and planning my hashtag campaigns. It’s easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing, especially right now as we are living online so much. You need to have a plan and focus on that during prep or you miss things that are important to you.

What makes a good pageant role model ?

You must be true to you and willing to speak up about it. Not everyone will agree with everything you say or do, so you need to find a way of saying it carefully without dampening who you are.

What’s your favourite pageant round ?

Swimwear for the confidence it has given me and Interview for showing who I am and what I can give.

How do you deal with pageant nerves ?

I have a playlist and headphones back stage, I take deep breathes and I pray. I am a Christian and I believe in doing the work and leaving it with God. I used to really struggle with nerves. I would shake so bad I couldn’t stand still in high heels. Now I’m a professional public speakers and have even spoken for Marks and Spencer’s on fitness. Knowing that no matter what happens it doesn’t really matter in the life and death scheme of things really eases my mind.

Jessica’s links are: Www.jessbarclay.com Www.pageantlandonline.com

@jessicaabarclay @pageantlandonline

Thank you so much Jessica for taking the time to speak to me your my first galaxy queen I have interviewed and I wish you every success with your pageant journey ! Lots of love Charlotte Ms Diamond South Yorkshire 2020