It's Queen Saturday and this week here at Sparkles and Rhinestones we are carrying on our Classic theme with the wonderful Laura White, who is competing in the Mrs UK World Classic Pageant in September! You will recognise Laura for being the extraordinary pageant mum behind Miss Junior Teen GB 2016 Erin White, but of course it was Erin who followed in her mother's footsteps having been a very successful pageant queen in her late teens. She's dusted off the pageant heels (and the swimsuit!) and is back on the pageant scene (and we couldn't be happier!)
When did your pageant journey begin?: I started off in 1984 when I was 15 when my mum entered me for a modelling competition called 'Catwalk Kids' run by the local newspaper who were looking for teenagers to take part in a fashion show in Cardiff. At the time I was being teased a lot in school and my nickname was 'Olive Oil' from Popeye because I was tall, skinny with goofy teeth. I won a place in the show because back then being tall and skinny was a definite advantage for modelling. The show was a huge success and it definitely gave me the bug to go on and do more. I had my teeth straightened and entered my first proper beauty contest when I was 17.
The very first 'proper' beauty contest I entered was Miss Hawaiian Tropic UK wearing a dress from Laura Ashley and a flower in my hair! I placed runner-up which was so amazing and unexpected! I came back the next year to win so that was even better!
Tell us a little more about your pageant title history? For the next few years I had a great time taking part in contests and won some fabulous titles such as Miss Brains 1986 - Brains is South Wales largest brewery and the contest attracted hundreds of entries with heats being held all over South Wales. The prize was £1,000 which was a huge amount back then. Along with these 'fun' titles I also won several county titles including Miss Llanelli, Miss Dyfed,Miss Taff Ely, Miss Pontypridd and Miss Penarth.
During this time I also won Welsh Model of the Year and won a place in the Cinzano Model of the Year contest which was televised with Bruno Brooks as the compere. The Miss Dyfed and Miss Llanelli titles won me entry in to the National Live televised finals of Miss United Kingdom 1986 and 1987 which was the most amazing experience ever. I did win the Wales title for Miss Great Britain in 1989 at the final at the NEC Birmingham which was also a major highlight as well as
being selected to represent England at the Miss International Tourism 1991 in Greece just before I was married which was a fantastic experience.
I then got married and won Mrs England in 1992 and went to Austria for 2 weeks to take part in Mrs Europe where I won the Mrs Swimsuit title and placed 5th. In those days there were very few contests for married women and the cut-off age was usually 25 even for married. The age limit for Miss United Kingdom was actually 23 which seems ridiculous now! So when I got back from Austria as a married woman at the ripe old age of 24 I hung up my swimsuit, packed or gave away everything and didn't give beauty contests a second thought (they weren't called pageants then).
So how did your daughter follow in your footsteps? Early in 2015 when Erin was 14 I saw a newspaper article about a mother and daughter duo who were both beauty queens. and I said to Erin 'that could be us' The mother and daughter was Kirsty Fletcher and Daisy Whetlor who we obviously had no idea who they were but they have become friends since! I thought that Erin looked like Daisy who is so pretty and I told Erin that she could be a beauty queen too if she wanted to. Luckily she said that she did! I searched online for a teen pageant and found Miss Jr Teen Great Britain which looked perfect and entered Erin without her knowing. Imagine her surprise when she got the call to say that she'd made the final! And so Erin's pageant journey began along with my new life as a pageant, and eventual Queen Mum, which I am loving!
Erin placed top 7 at her very first pageant, then placed 2nd runner-up at Miss Teen Galaxy Wales before scooping her dream crown of Miss Jr Teen Great Britain 2016/17. Her pageant journey is far from over and I'm excited to be a part of whatever the future holds for her. Being involved in pageants has made me and Erin so close as a mother daughter bond and we've done things, been places, met people and made friends all over UK that we never would have otherwise. We live in a small rural community and are thrilled about the opportunities that pageants have given us that we would not have had otherwise. And I'm keen for that to carry on for as long as possible. I've signed up for a 5k run next month and I've abseiled down a VERY tall building last year. I would never have done anything like this if it hadn't been for pageants. Erin and I have raised thousands of pounds for charities together as well and this has been the most rewarding experience for both of us. Pageants have really brought out the best in both of us and I don't want it to end.
How do pageants differ from now to when you first competed? Pageants are so different now. In the old days there were no entry fees as the contests were sponsored by businesses or for local contests by the local council. The Miss Dyfed was sponsored by Dyfed Fire Brigade so my proper title was Miss Dyfed Fire Brigade! It came with entry to the Miss UK so it was a really big contest. I can't imagine a fire service or council office sponsoring a beauty contest today. There were also lots of contests sponsored by alcohol companies like Diamond White Cider and Cinzano. That wouldn't happen today either I don't think but in those days we didn't think anything of it. Lots of companies would usually have an annual contest and lots of girls used to do the 'beauty circuit' entering competitions most weekends.
The expression 'crown chaser' wasn't invented and it was considered good to win lots of titles because there was no commitment after winning unless it was a very big national contest that went on to Miss UK or Miss GB. We weren't expected to do appearances or fundraising before a contest. And with no social media you very rarely knew who else was in the contest until you all turned up for rehearsals. Thinking back now I actually can't remember how we all used to find out about contests with no internet etc. other than adverts in the local paper and leaflets.
I think it's better these days as the run up to the contest is more important for the judges to see the contestant as a 'total package' in what she'll bring to the title rather than just be judged on your couple of minutes on stage.
What made you decide to put on those pageant heels again? All during Erin's pageant journey I've supported her 100% and done absolutely everything I could to ensure that she was the best that she could be and did everything she needed to do to be successful. This has all brought back all my memories of the past and re-ignited my love of competing and being part of something so positive and rewarding.
Pageants have changed so much and now it is possible to compete as an older married woman as there are so many wonderful systems that embrace married women and have classic sections. I have had the most amazing positive support from everyone which has been absolutely overwhelming and I'm going to do my best to make them proud. My husband is thrilled too. He was my 'pageant boyfriend' back then and then he became a pageant dad to Erin. Now he gets to be a pageant husband! I've been so lucky as I've featured in The Daily Mail in a feature about how to stay looking good at age 50 and been interviewed on Radio 5 live about the benefits of being a pageant mum!
I put it off until my 50th birthday when I finally plucked up the courage to enter Mrs UK World Classic. I looked for a system that was specifically aimed at married women and that had a classic section (over 45) as this is where I feel the most comfortable. Mrs UK World places emphasis on inspirational women who have successful relationships, families and careers and is a great platform for me to show that beauty has no barriers or 'best before' date.
Your current title is Mrs Herefordshire UK World Classic, what will you do if you win Mrs UK World Classic? If I'm lucky enough to win Mrs UK World Classic in September it really would be the icing on the cake for me. I tried twice to win Miss UK but was not successful so to be Mrs UK 30 years later would be such a thrill and honour for me and cause for real celebration.
I would use my year to highlight that you don't have to be young to be beautiful and that although you're only young once you actually have the rest of your life to achieve your ambitions. You don't stop dreaming or achieving once you hit a certain age or stage of your life.
Wish me luck !!
A massive good luck to Laura, who as well as being an amazing pageant mum of two, having a degree and starting a Masters in Social Work, running her own business called Naturiol Beauty (check it out on facebook) and all that time being a fab Mrs Contestant!
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