Oxford student reaches finals of Miss England competition
Last month, third year Queen’s student Pip Stewart became the first ever Oxford undergraduate to reach the finals of the Miss England competition. The 20-year-old Modern History and Politics finalist progressed to the last stage of the competition at the Liverpool Olympia after being claiming the regional title of ‘Miss Cheltenham and Gloucester’ during the summer.
Stewart claims her participation in the competition was the result of a chronic bout of procrastination: “I was supposed to be writing an essay, and I saw an advert on the internet. I filled it in, not expecting it to come to anything, then a few days later I got a letter saying ‘Welcome to Round One’. It kind of snowballed from there.
The forty contestants strutted their stuff in front of a panel of eleven judges, taking part in a range of events: “On the first day we had a talent show. People belly-danced, read poetry, made balloon animals… I played the saxophone • very badly! I‘d never played in front of anyone before; I was terrified!” The following day saw two catwalk events, one showcasing the girls in their choice of evening wear and the other presenting a dance in ‘Miss England’ sportswear.
After reaching the final twelve, in traditional beautycontest style, Stewart took part in a question and answer session with the judges. “It wasn’t cringy stuff about world peace. They just asked which university I went to, and how I got into extreme sports.” Despite acquitting herself well during this interrogation, Pip eventually lost out to Hammasa Kohistani, who will go on to represent England in the Miss World contest in China this December.
However, she doesn’t discount taking part again in future contests, and the experience has already fired her enthusiasm for the limelight. “I’ve got so many contacts now; I wrote something for The Telegraph, I appeared on ITV and Channel 5 news, I even got asked to be in Casualty. It would be great to do something like TV presenting in the future.” Despite the lure of a glamorous life in the media, Stewart is keeping one eye firmly on the future.
“I’d like to do something political when I’m older, but whilst I’m young I’d like to do something fun and funky. “I don’t think having done this will affect my career in the long term • people forget so quickly, it’s just a five minute thing really, no-one will care about it in a few months.” Stewart is not afraid to answer critics who maintain that beauty contests are outdated and exploitative. “Not once was I made to wear a bikini, or show my body off in that way.
I’d say to feminists that taking part in the contest is a personal choice; no one’s forced into it. “I did think it would all be really bitchy and catty, but it wasn’t, we all got on really well. It wasn’t anything dodgy at all, it was all just a bit of a giggle • I had an awesome time.”
5th Oct 2005