Becoming a Miss Northern Ireland Finalist 👑💜

Hi,

I am SO excited about this blog post (and still can’t believe that I’m writing it) documenting the beginning of my Journey as a Miss Northern Ireland finalist! 💜👑

I’ve always been really interested in Beauty Pageants; I’ve been saying for years that I was drawn to my first Film & TV employer Stellify Media because I was so into their show Beauty Queen & Single

With a hairdresser & MUA mum, I’ve always been super girly and into hair, makeup and beauty so an event/competition that revolves around women with amazing hair & makeup wearing gorgeous dresses (as well as displaying their intelligence, talents and charity work) is right up my street.

The Miss Northern Ireland competition is to find someone to represent NI in the Miss World competition, which is happening this year in Puerto Rico. A big part of the Miss World competition, and therefore Miss Northern Ireland, is the Beauty with a Purpose aspect.

Beauty with a Purpose, by the official definition, “recognises the Miss World contestant who is shown to have made a real difference to people in need in her homeland. Their hard work is rewarded with a guarantee of continued support for their chosen cause from Miss World”

My insta feed is full of former Miss NI’s, Miss Ireland’s, and Miss World. I really love following these gorgeous, intelligent women and seeing how they’ve used their Beauty Queen platform to further their careers and launch their businesses and side hustles, as well as do fantastic charity work.

Thurs 6th May

It was a quiet afternoon in work and I was scrolling Instagram on my lunch break, when I saw Lauren Leckey (current Miss Northern Ireland) had posted on her stories that the Miss Northern Ireland applications were open. 

I’d always been interested in the Miss NI competition but had always talked myself out of applying, telling myself I was too short… my figure wasn’t right… I wasn’t pretty enough, etc… 

The Covid Lockdowns were what changed my mind about applying. With the whole world being shut down, I realised that I truly never knew what was going to happen next, so why would I talk myself out of even putting my hat in the ring for something that I really wanted to do? 

I already knew from following the competition that I met the basic criteria so I tapped through to the Miss NI official page, and read through how to apply.

I still had the most of my lunch to take so I thought, ‘awk why not,’ I copied and pasted the application questions into the notes app on my laptop and started drafting up my answers.

As part of the application, I had to include 2 full length, makeup free photos. One in a black bikini and another in a black vest top and leggings.

I’ve always been funny about taking bikini pictures because of my own insecurities, and I already I knew I couldn’t trust my boyfriend to take them at a flattering angle, so I headed home to Lisburn and got my much more insta-savvy mum to take them.

After taking ages to narrow down the dozens of pictures I finally settled on my 2 favourites, sent off my application, and then just put it out of my mind because I honestly didn’t think a thing would come of it.

Mon 10th May

I was totally surprised and delighted when I received an email from Miss NI inviting me to participate in an upcoming Zoom heat that Wednesday!

Normally, the Miss NI heats would take place in bars/restaurants across NI, and the girls competing would each do a catwalk, and then a host would ask them questions on stage in front of the judges of the heat.

Because of Covid restrictions, the heat was taking place over Zoom and we had to send a video of ourselves doing a catwalk in advance of the heat. I felt silly and embarrassed recording it in my back garden so of course it wasn’t as good as it could have been, I included it in the Vlog featured at the top of this blog if you want a laugh

Wed 12th May

The day of the Virtual Heat I made sure I had my fake tan topped up, and gave myself a blow-dry and really took my time to do my makeup to make sure I felt really positive and confident.

Taking part in the Zoom heat was really fun, I was in a big chat room with the rest of the girls and the judges, and the judges just took their time one by one to chat to us and find out more about us all.

Getting to listen to the other girls was so much fun, they were all really gorgeous with bubbly personalities and they each had their own niche that would have made any of them an amazing Miss NI finalist.

Former Miss NI, Meagan Green was one of the judges, and before we signed off to let the judges make their decision on which 2 girls would go forward in the competition as a finalist, she told us all that she didn’t win the the first Miss NI heat she took part in, and became a finalist by taking part in a second one, and that’s how she got to the next stage.

An hour or so passed and the gorgeous Chloe Simms and Niamh Morrison were announced on instagram as the 2 winners of the heat, going forward as finalists in the Miss NI competition. They're really beautiful and deserving, and I’m so excited to follow their journeys as finalists in the competition 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Whilst I was admittedly, a little disappointed, I wasn’t at all deterred. Anyone who’s known me when I was a new-starter in Film & TV, knows that I’m not someone who gives up easily!

The next morning, I reached out to the Miss NI via their official email and expressed that I would love to take part in another heat if possible.

I heard back a day or so later, and was thrilled to be invited to take part in another heat happening on Wednesday 2nd June!

This gives me a couple of weeks to re shoot my walk video, and go in more relaxed than the last time, now that I have a better idea of how they go.

Mon 31 May

I had this beautiful Bank Holiday Monday off and spent the afternoon re-recording my catwalk video. I felt a lot more composed recording it in the afternoon with no time pressure (and no Dad asking what I was doing and interrupting takes)

I got all dolled up, took my time, relaxed and was much happier with the new video compared to my first try, fingers crossed for Wednesday night!!!

Wed 9th June

So, after an unprecedented circumstance causing last week’s heat to be cancelled, I’m now finally getting my chance again, and once again, it wasn’t my night.

Congratulations to that evening’s fabulous winners Niamh McGregor and Catherine Mulholland, again completely fabulous and so deserving!!!

I was disappointed in myself as I knew that I had let my nerves get to me and hadn’t put my best foot forward. I sent off another email asking to take part in one of the final heats, third time lucky!!!!

Tues 15th June

I hear back that I’ve been invited to join in on the Wed 23rd June heat! I’m absolutely delighted and determined to make the most of my third and final chance!

With each heat I do, I learn more about how the competition works, and how to put my best foot forward more effectively. I’ve come away from both heats disappointed in myself as there was so much I didn’t say! I let my nerves get to me and I would totally forget to mention my blog, or my Grade 7 classical singing qualification, or my work as a Belfast Met College ambassador and would go off on a random tangent and hang up the Zoom call kicking myself!

I figured that the best way to combat my nerves was to be organised and prepared for the kinds of questions that keep tripping me. I bought some study cards and wrote down the most difficult questions I could remember, as well as some bullet points that I’d include in my answers when I was relaxed, and able to consider what I actually wanted to say.

I’ll spend the rest of the week torturing my mum and boyfriend to help me practice my questions, practice my catwalk and rest up ahead of the heat!

Wed 23rd June

The morning of my third (and final) chance to win at a Miss NI heat arrived, I felt nervous, excited, and prepared.

Having thought about what I actually would like to say in response to some of the questions I could remember, and practicing suppressing my bad habits (talking with my hands too much, being fidgety, playing with my hair, etc.) I feel I’m now coming into the heat much stronger and more confident than before.

I headed straight home from work and started doing my hair and makeup (one of the rules of the heats is that you have to do your own), zipped myself into my new dress, and sat down, ready to give it my best shot! 

Thurs 24th June

IT WAS THIRD-TIME LUCKYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am absolutely delighted and cannot express how over the moon I was when their Instagram announcement went up with my photo! 🎉🥳🥳🥳

I’m still completely riding the high and absolutely ecstatic, as being a Miss Northern Ireland finalist is a money-can’t-buy experience! 

Finalists will receive catwalk training, press/interview training, model training, a blow dry from Michele International, a makeup lesson at Paddy McGurgan’s Makeup Pro Store and get to take part in the glamorous final in September!!!! 

The next couple of months are going to be very exciting and I’m so excited to keep you all posted!!!

Stacey 🤍👑💜