When Apollonia llewellyn, 18, from Barnsley, became a finalist in a beauty pageant, she was delighted. Then her life began to unravel...
![Beauty And The Beast Beauty And The Beast](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/5135/275836/5ad86f5aee5a3/Beauty-And-The-Beast.jpg)
Hands on my hips, I tossed my long, mousey-blonde hair and pulled my very best pout.
‘Such a little poser!’ my mum Paula, now 47, giggled, snapping away.
Just 6 years old, I loved pretending to be a catwalk model and posing in front of the camera.
With two brothers – Asa, then 10, and Arista, 5 – rough and tumbling round the house, I had to make my own girly fun. So Mum’s high heels and lippy were forever being plundered.
‘I want to be pretty, like the ladies in the magazines,’ I told Mum and my dad John, now 58.
By my teens, I was more concerned with doing well at school. But I still liked to try to look pretty, too.
So for my 13th birthday, Mum arranged a special treat.
‘I’ve booked us a mother and daughter photo shoot,’ she beamed. ‘At a proper photographer’s studio!’
It was an amazing day. We had our hair and make-up done, giggling as we strutted our stuff in front of the camera.
I loved every second of it. ‘You’re really photogenic,’ the
photographer said after. ‘Have you thought about signing with a modelling agency?’
I was stunned. Yes, I loved posing for pics, but did I really have what it took to be a model?
‘Go for it!’ Mum encouraged, as the photographer gave me a list of recommended agents.
Before long, I was signed up. That’s how I also discovered beauty pageants.
Representing West Yorkshire, I entered the Miss Teen Great Britain competition.
And, weeks later... ‘I’m a finalist!’ I squealed
to Mum and Dad. ‘Well done!’ Dad grinned. The final was a year away.
Each contestant would be judged on their achievements during those 12 months.
So I threw myself into doing as many photo shoots as I could, started fund-raising for The Christie cancer charity and appeared at local events.
Denne historien er fra April 26, 2018-utgaven av Pick Me Up !.
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Denne historien er fra April 26, 2018-utgaven av Pick Me Up !.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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Claire Panchel, 32, from Burgess Hill, neglected her condition for years...
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When Victoria Lang, 31, from Banton, North Lanarkshire, experienced a period that was a cause of concern she never thought it would reveal something far more disturbing…