Miss World’s British girls open up about working out five times-a-week, pre-show rivalry – and why they’re not airheads
A JUNIOR doctor may not be the job you'd expect from a beauty queen, but Miss World's British contestants are on a mission to change the 'airhead' stereotype.
Some 120 girls from across the globe landed in London on Wednesday, to take part in the 69th annual pageant - with the final on December 14.
Fabulous Digital spoke exclusively to Miss England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, to find out how they've been preparing for the three-week competition.
From working out five times-a-week to extensive beauty regimes and pre-show rivalry, here's what they revealed...
Miss England - Dr Bhasha Mukherjee, 24, from Derby
Bhasha may have two degrees and work as a junior doctor, but she says no-one blinks an eyelid about her side job as a beauty queen.
She told us: "I think it's misunderstood, every single medic I know is really good at something they do on the side, it's important to give yourself a break and take yourself away from the stresses of the job.
"I do feel pageants are viewed negatively but it’s surprising when I meet people in real life, because they are a lot more positive about it when they get to know me.
"It’s a question of getting to know the girls that are doing the pageants, rather than judging pageants as a whole.
"I think the people that are around us are all that matters. The rest of the world’s opinions really matter to me personally.";
Bhasha, who has Indian heritage, was first signed up for pageants by her mum - but it wasn't Miss England she had in mind.
She said: "I was in the modelling industry for about seven years before Miss England came along.
"A few years ago my mum really wanted me to do pageants, she actually signed me up for Miss India.
"It wasn't really practical because I was in the middle of medical school, I would have had to drop everything and go over there, but with Miss England I could just carry on.
"It was still hard, but a lot more feasible."
I just see pageants as a job interview
Dr Bhasha Mukherjee
Bhasha says there can be some rivalry in the run-up to the event, but insists that all fades away once the girls get backstage.
She said: "The rivalry is always beforehand. You have been seeing these people through social media, you don't get to see the real person.
"I think the rivalry is pretty limited to that, when you meet these girls it becomes a journey everyone is going through.
"You've got to do your thing but at the same time you are supporting each other, it's a bit of both.
"Backstage it's a lot of waiting around and that can feel quite nerve-wracking, you are in a constant stage of adrenaline which is quite draining and exhausting.
"In Miss England I opened the show for the talent round and I was shivering when I came off stage from all the nerves.
"I remember someone gave me a hug and I needed that. Everyone does stick up for each other because you're all feeling it."
In the past, pageants have been criticised for their focus on looks and the infamous bikini round, which was canned in Miss World over a decade ago.
The girls are all stunning but Bhasha insists the competition is not skin deep - with all 120 contestants backing a charity they're passionate about, as part of Beauty With a Purpose.
She said: "I have never felt that I’m being judged on my looks in any pageant that I’ve done.
"I just see pageants as a job interview, you dress up, you do your make-up -how you present yourself and the confidence you walk with is easily judged in a job interview.
"The resume counts so much, how much charity work you've done, what you do as a job, all these factors play a part."
I’m not just representing England, I'm representing the NHS
Dr Bhasha Mukherjee
Bhasha has been working out five times-a-week with a trainer, but says she'd never want to be a size zero.
She said: "I have been training a lot. I'm a self-proclaimed non-sporty girl, but I enjoy boxing so I've been moving with an MMA trainer.
"Whenever I'm in Derby, I train four or five times-a-week. I wanted to learn self-defence and aim for a strong body, rather than a skinny body.
"Working as a junior doctor, it's not practical for me to be a size zero. I wasn't trying to lose weight but gain muscle.
"I feel like I’m not just representing England. My NHS colleagues have been very supportive of this and I feel more honoured to representing the NHS."
Miss Scotland - Keryn Matthew, 24, from Midlothian
Keryn, who has a degree in Ancient History and used to work in PR and communications, put her career on hold for Miss World - but insists she doesn't think of herself as a model.
She said: "I love it when people judge the competition because I can explain it's completely different to that.
"There’s no bikini competition anymore, which I don’t really have anything against, but it’s not the style of Miss World.
"I love telling people it's evolved and is very modern, I like to think of myself as an ambassador for my country rather than anything pageanty.
"I'm not a model, I'm only 5ft 4ins, but when I was younger I used to love Miss Scotland, I remember seeing this gorgeous girl with a tiara in the newspaper."
As well as the standard workouts, Keryn's been using electric muscle stimulation to stay in shape - a £350 technique which promises six pack abs without any sit-ups.
She said: "I've been keeping really fit, working out four to five times-a-week.
"It's not the most pleasant feeling but it's definitely fun."
I love it when people judge the competition because I can explain it's completely different to that
Keryn Matthew
With a three-week stint in London ahead of them, preparations weren't just about tweaking their looks.
Keryn joked: "I’ve got all my bags lined up. I think my mum is so happy to see the back of me and all my preparations.
"We're away for a month and I know it's only London and I'm in Scotland, but I'm trying to plan what I'm going to wear every day."
Although there's no group chat yet, Keryn says the contestants have been keen to get to know each other.
She said: "We're all on social media and I've been following every girl I've managed to find so far.
"I've been feeling the same support back, we will comment on one another's Instagrams and I've had a few direct messages saying 'I can't wait to meet you'.
"There's more of a community rather than rivalry. I think it's going to be a real sisterhood."
Miss Northern Ireland - Lauren Leckey, 21, from Stoneyford
Lauren works for her family concrete business. It was set up by her dad, who was left paralysed by a motorbike crash over a decade ago.
She said: "I'd never modelled before entering Miss Ireland. When I tell people I'm a beauty queen, they're normally surprised as it's not something you hear all the time.
"Some people think it's just about how you look but from doing the competition I know it's about your personality and what you have to give.
"When I was doing Miss Ireland, I was one of the only ones who never went to university."
I'm bringing five long dresses, a few jumpsuits and cocktail dresses, probably eight or so
Lauren Leckey
Lauren insists there's no rivalry between the girls, and says she was messaging everyone on Instagram ahead of the event.
She said: "When I did Miss Ireland we got on so well. I'm still in a group chat with 23 other girls, most are a similar age to me.
"I was a bit worried going into it, not knowing what to expect, but all the girls were really nice.
"You're having a good crack, you nearly forget you're there for a competition."
When it comes to pre-show rituals, Lauren admits it can be time-consuming - and says she starts a couple of days before.
She said: "Normally I'll put my curlers in overnight, that would take me 45 minutes to wash, dry and pin it.
"I tan the night before and shower it off in the morning, and I'll get my nails done as well.
"Most of my prep is the night before and then make-up would take an hour. Getting your dress on takes a few minutes as well.
"I've got lots of dresses for London. I'm bringing five long dresses, a few jumpsuits and cocktail dresses, probably eight or so.
"But normally for work I'll just wear some BB cream and a pair of jeans and a shirt with trainers or boots.
"I don't like wearing loads of make-up or tan and I wouldn't curl my hair for work, but I would if I was going shopping on the weekend."
Miss Wales - Gabriella Jukes, 23, from Port Talbort
Gabriella is a full-time model and says she's spent the last five years preparing for this competition.
She said: "When I was 17, I thought 'I'm just going to enter Miss World and see how it goes'.
"I fell in love with everything the platform stood for, I haven't really looked back.
"I feel like I've been preparing for this for five years.
"I've been an ambassador for Thrive Women's Aid and worked so hard on my modelling for five years, so it's been a long time coming."
Of course you have to look good, but it's more about what you bring as a person to the role of Miss World
Gabriella Jukes
Gabriella, who has a degree in sport and exercise science, insists there's more to Miss World than beauty.
She said: "I'm really looking forward to the fitness round, because of my background in sport.
"I see it as a kind of Olympics, which I would have loved to do when I was in athletics.
"I've never really experienced any negativity towards doing pageants.
"My family have all really supported it and see how much Miss Wales has helped me personally, I used to be quite a shy girl.
"I don't really care what other people's opinions are, if there is any negativity I'll take it on the chin.
"I'm quite thick-skinned and every girl I've met at Miss World is very intelligent.
"It's a platform to use our voices and show other girls they can achieve anything in life.
"Of course you have to look good, but it's more about what you bring as a person to the role of Miss World.
"You've got to look after yourself but I don't really feel a pressure (from the judges) to do it. It's about eating healthily, exercising, just looking after yourself.
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