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BELLE OF BELFAST
GRADUATE Eden McAllister has been crowned Miss Great Britain - bringing the iconic national beauty title home to Northern Ireland for the first time in nine years.
Eden, from Dundonald, beat 36 other girls at the glittering ceremony in Leicester on Friday night.
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The 22 year old beauty also won this year’s Miss Beach Body in the 76th year old pageant.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, she says: “I am in so much shock, I couldn’t stop shaking when I heard my name.
“I would have been thrilled to be in the top 12 and never dreamed I’d win.
“Competition was stiff this year and there were so many other fantastic ladies I honestly didn’t think I’d win.
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“I am so proud to have done it for Belfast. It just shows that Belfast girls can do it!”
Miss GB 2020 Jen Atkin crowned Eden in front of 20 members of her family and friends who had flown in to support her during two days of intense heats.
Despite her stunning looks, single Eden reveals how she’s never been asked out on a date.
“I have no luck with guys,” she laughs. “But that’s fine, it doesn’t bother me. I’m happy living my best life and doing me.”
Eden won a luxury trip to Dubai, a year's modelling contract with online fashion store Shein and £1,000.
The number of contestants for the coveted Miss Great Britain 2021 pageant reached record heights, following last year’s introduction of a Ms division (for women aged 28-39).
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Kat Henry, 37, a mum of one and zumba instructor from Croydon, South London, took the Ms Crown.
She said: “I am beyond grateful for every single person who played a part in this journey.
“We made history on Friday. I continue to pave the way for greater representation for not only plus size women, but also women of colour within powerful, leadership roles.
“To anyone who has ever felt unworthy or incapable of taking up space in society today because they don’t fit a specific mould, I hope that this inspires you to strive to achieve your dreams.”
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Mum of two Kirsty Fletcher, a beauty therapist from Camberley, Surrey, won the Classic division after urging all women her age to ‘flourish’.
“My daughter Daisy encouraged me to enter, explains Kirtsy. “She’d competed in Miss Teen Great Britain.
“I realised with the kids leaving home I wanted to do something for me and not something which defined me as a wife and mother.
"Competing in pageants has boosted my confidence and shaped me. I want women to know that they can flourish in their later years and hope my story inspires them.”
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This year’s competition raised over 45k for Cancer Research UK and Alex’s Wish.
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Head judge and author of Misdemeanours: Beauty Queen Scandals and The Official History of Miss Great Britain, Sally-Ann Fawcett said: “If someone had told me as a little girl watching Miss Great Britain on telly back in the 70s that, all these years later, I would be head judge for the very same pageant, I’d never have believed it.
“Tonight I consider myself unbelievably honoured to make the dreams of three amazing women come true.”
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