'The bullies used to call me ugly, but now I could be a beauty queen'
A 19-year-old beauty queen hopeful has told how childhood bullies who used to tell her she was ugly had inspired her to enter the competition.
Ria Badhan, of Mill Street, Bilston, is already a semi-finalist in Miss Teen Great Britain and said entering the contest has helped restore her damaged confidence after being targeted by bullies as a youngster.
Miss Badhan didn't let her experiences hold her back and went on to achieve several high-grade GCSEs at South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy. She was able to get a place at Queen Mary's Grammar School in Walsall and is now studying for her degree in psychology at Manchester University.
But the bullies were still at the back of her mind, but she is now proving to them that she is stronger than they ever imagined.
"Studying child psychology has definitely helped me to deal with what I was feeling and thinking when I was being bullied," she said.
"The pageant is just my way of showing the bullies that I can be a beauty queen and I can beat them."
The competition selected120 girls to be semi finalists, with 60 going through to the final round which will take place in late October at The Globe in Blackpool.
The finals will include a pyjama party and various clothing rounds including a gown round and an extended interview with the panel of judges.
Ria is hoping that people will help her become a finalist by voting for her on the pageant's dedicated facebook page.
"The judges pick the finalists for the most part," she said. "But one girl is picked by how many likes she has on her pictures. So my friends and family have been sharing my portfolio on line to try and get me in. It just means so much to me to have my confidence back. It's really helped me tackle my issues and the bullies."
To vote for Ria, search for her on MissTeenGreatBritain on Facebook.
