A Corby woman will compete in a national beauty pageant next weekend for the title of ‘UK’s National Miss’.
Katie Donnelly, 22, who has recently completed her degree in Journalism and Creative Writing at the University of Lincoln, has made it to the finals of UK’s National Miss which is set to be held at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly hotel on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th July.
Katie has lived with a disability since she was 18 months old, when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. She was left with right arm paralysis and various other mobility issues. This, however, does not get in the way of her pushing towards her aspirations.
When talking to Katie, she brought up that: “Originally, I entered pageants as a way to build my confidence and step out of my comfort zone, but over the past few years it has become much more than that.”
Throughout her journey, Katie has completed three charity gaming marathons, hosted four charity events, raising thousands for various charities, and spoken out about her experiences living with a disability.
Stating that she “wanted to make a difference, not just within the pageant community, but by advocating for diversity and inclusion, talking about the importance of representation.
“In 2023, we live in a much more accepting world, but we’re still not there yet. There are still harmful stereotypes surrounding the disabled community. I hope that through my pageant journey, I can start to change that.
“I want to inspire others to embrace their differences and aim for the stars. I’m a huge believer in being able to do anything you set your mind to, and I hope that by getting on that stage next weekend I can be an example of that.”
If Katie brings home the title, she will be the first physically disabled woman to win the national title. A huge step in the right direction towards her fight for inclusivity.
The competition is a two-day event consisting of an activity day, catwalk-style show, and an all-important interview with the judges, which are all synonymous with beauty pageants.
However, Katie says that pageants are “nothing like the stereotypes suggest”.
She said: “Pageants are the most empowering thing I have ever done. I have met so many incredible people and had have been given the most incredible opportunities thanks to pageantry. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
The Shire Sounds team wishes Katie the best of luck for the finals, having seen her strive in both her elements in the professional light of pageantry and journalism, we do not see why she would not succeed. Hopefully, this experience, will not only be empowering for Katie, but also those who feel that they view themselves just a little bit within her story.
