Don't Tell Me I Can't....Enter A Beauty Pageant

Shany Hagan wanted to inject a touch of glamour into her life.

- Rebecca Knight and Lucy Notary Antonio

When the presenter calls my name I throw back my shoulders and stride onto stage with practised confidence. My purple evening gown glistens under the stage lights as I aim a dazzling smile at the audience to rapturous applause. I stand next to the other Miss Galaxy UK contestants, taking in the moment and enjoying every second. If you’d told me a few years ago, that I’d be standing here competing in a beauty pageant at 50, I would never have believed you.

Although entering a beauty pageant was never something I dreamt about doing, I’ve always been drawn to the glamorous things in life.

I had a career in sales, but in my spare time I’d work as an extra in soaps and films, dreaming of one day becoming a household name. But when I fell pregnant with my son Tom in 2001, that all went on hold so I could care for him. When Tom was four, his dad and I split and I returned to my job in sales and hosted exchange students to support us, but one day a week I still worked as an extra on Emmerdale.