The end of my year.... PERFECT finals

Although full of illness and the odds against me, I got to compete in the Europe's PERFECT finals last night, with help from my gorge Miss Swindon who drove me there and back, and watched me work that runway! (Sorry it went on longer than expected and was another coffee journey!). The day was a long one, we practiced and practiced. I found out that PERFECT is different to anything I had ever done before! Fast music to evening wear! The music was amazing, just my kind of music and all of us girls were dancing backstage whilst waiting to go on! I met some amazing girls and some familiar faces which made the day go by so much faster and make it more fun! I got some great help by Jade who did my eye make up, even when I was panicking about my lashes falling off! Aha she looked amazing too and has lost so much wait! Cant wait for Miss English Beauty! ;)

I got some great tips from Anysha who helped me with my perfect walk, and to watch some of the other girls who went on to win big titles was aamazing. Everyone brought their A game and the Miss catorgory was so hard! But I made some good friends, and we had a giggle backstage. The opening number was in our silver dresses, and I loved the start of the music which the current Queens had their dancing moment! It was a song from Kiss Gyms Zumba class! and the temptation backstage to break into my Zumba moves were unreal! But then the doors opened and the finals had began!

After saying our titles, it was a rush down the stairs to change into talent wear. I was singing "Run" by snow patrol, and I had a chance to rehearse it before the finals on the stage. When the moment came, it only had to be me who got the dodgy backing track! So I start to sing and the music goes crackling, bearing in mind the last two times I practited it was perfect, so ever the true professional I continued singing which everyone clapped. I was stopped and whilst they waiting to see what was the matter it was me on the stage with the mic stand, silence. So in the end I had a little conversation with the audience, "So how is your night going ladies and gentlemen? It's going to be a great show!". Oh my days, so in the end I had to wait until after the next act (who won the talent section with her amazing cheerleader routine) and then come back again! At least this time I wasn't full of nerves as how could I be after that! Turns out they tried to play it through a dvd player! I loved singing on that stage, as soon as the chorus kicked in I took the microphone off the stand in Westlife style. Now everyone who knows me knows that unless it's karaoke  or something like that, I'm not one to sing on demand. I'l jokely sing or sing along to the radio but whenever someone goes prove it, I get all shy and calm up. This is why I love a pageant with a Talent section as I get to sing which is what I love doing! And the fact no one booed was also a good thing! Once I get the Dvd back I'll be able to see how well I did, excited!

Next was Fashion WOW Wear, with our onstage interview. This was the part I was most nervous about as I had messed up earlier in practice. But on stage I got my point across. y question was, "What would you say to people who disagree with women entering pageants?". I am a very strong believer in what pageants has done for my life. My personal life has not been the fairy-tale lifestyle, from school to abusive relationships but through pageants I have gained so much more confidence and made lifetime friendships. Also I have done once in a lifetime things! Like be the face of Sani Fashions and The Square and seeing my face in their shop! Walking the catwalk for Swindon Town Football Club, being in The Sun national newspaper and front page of the Swindon Advertiser! Also travelling to different parts of the country and having my best friends. Every weekend is different! My Fashion wear was based on the 1920's style, with the flapper dress and I worked my fan! My amazing dress was custom made by Stardust Boutique and everyone loved it! It was great to shimmy too!

Next round was my favruoite round, not for some as swimwear is the round you all dread as a women but I loved my outfit and have been waiting months to wear it! I had an amazing Indian Headdress and made myself a cape to swish around. On stage there were two frames either side so from the view there would be four girls on stage, two in the frames, one in the middle and one on the runway. I didn't want to leave that stage! Thanks to my PERFECT sponsors of Kiss Gyms, I felt confident enough to work that bikini and not be shy. Just because the competition is over, doesn't mean I will stop working hard to achieve my goals of being fit and healthy.

Finally evening with my sponsored dress from Prettymades, a last minute send off and the dress was beautiful! Hard to rock a big frock when the evening round was high tempo but I hope I managed to try! The finals ran a long time, finishing past midnight and although I didn't place or win any side awards I had a truly eye-opening experience. I learned a lot about myself and that I can push myself further, can own that stage and also to be able to laugh when things go wrong. I faced the fear of the bikini round and sang in front of a big audience. I met some PERFECT girls, who I'm sure it will not be the last time I see them! Congrats to all the winners, America isn't going to know what's hit them with Team Europe! I'm sure you will all keep us updated on Facebook and twitter, and I cant wait to see all the images! For the last time, this is Hannah Golding and I am your England's PERFECT Miss x <3 x

If you want that crown, you better give me some squats!

It's those last few days before the final of Europe's PERFECT finals and it's really sinking in that after months of planning and waiting, this Saturday I will be representing England and trying to win that crown. All of this wouldn't of been possible without my amazing sponsors Kiss Gyms, which Adam (pictured here teasing me with the crown) has trained me from July last year from this..

 

pictured before I gave away my Miss Swindon crown, to this....

I lost over two stone and toned up, there is still a way to go personally but it's my love of chocolate which has stopped me! I'm still much better within myself, I've started to eat better and my attidude to exercise has changed completely! The gym is like my second home!! I now have the confidence to walk in that bikini on stage and work it!

 

. This week I have been training hard, taking all the good classes that Kiss have to offer (which are free!) and now can not move my legs and it hurts to laugh! But it's worth it! The classes are run by experienced staff, from Zumba which get's booked up within seconds proving how popular it is, to the trainers around the gym. Nick's abs class on the Monday has made my friend dislike me after taking her there! Take a look here http://www.kissgyms.com/swindon/bookinginduction.php and see what classes you would like to do!

alternatively check out the personal trainers, don't be afraid to ask as they know what they are doing! I would recommend if you can afford it to take up personal training as having Adam and Nick train me and pushing you that bit extra, gets better results! Sometimes you can just go in for an "easy" session, but the only person you are cheating s yourself, and every PERFECT girl wants to be the best they can be!

 Outfits are all done, apart from my evening dress which I'll just have to borrow one of my pageant friends :) Hotel is booked, just to get work and college out of the way and I will be strutting my stuff down that catwalk. Wish me luck guys, who knows I may be your Europe's PERFECT Miss. But whatever happens, I am so proud to have had my title for this year and work hard in the community with my other Wiltshire Beauty Queens. It's been an amazing ride!

Pictures by http://www.caltristan.co.uk/

Who run the world? Girls

International Woman's Day's on the 8th March and woman everywhere were making sure everyone knew! This day is actually in aid of Oxfam to help woman in poverty gain better life chances than what they have before. For example,
£29 can provide training for a female farmer enabling her to feed her family.
£310 can train 10 traditional birth attendants in Ghana with potentially life-saving skills.
£500 can recruit around 6000 'Change Makers' in Pakistan to help change attitudes to help stop violence against women!

Myself, Miss Swindon and Miss Wiltshire Galaxy were invited to help at the Royal Wootton Bassett fundraiser for International Woman's Day, ran by Ellen Woollaston-Cooper who done an AMAZING job! I was lucky enough to help last year at her first fundraiser for International Woman's Day in RWB, and this time she went even bigger! The raffle prizes were amazing (no winner again, never lucky on raffles!) and there was alot of pampering and gift ideas, perfect for upcoming mother's day! Myself, Georgia and Ela were at hand to sell raffle tickets and give out the goodie bags, with one lucky person getting a special goodie bag containing a free massage and delish chocolates! Very jealous! There was also a talk about the Charity, "Coppafeel" which is making sure that woman regularly check their breasts for signs of breast cancer. You can never be too sure! They also gave these "handy" stickers out which we sported.

I can't wait to here how much has been raised! So the PERFECT finals are literally next week, less than 7 days! Booked the hotel room and fingers crossed my evening gown will be here in time or i'll be calling on my Ruth who has the most amazing pageant dresses!! Speaking of pageant friends, Miss Swindon 2012 is organising a charity music event at the MECA in aid of Beauty With A Purpose- https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152635785740611&set=oa.495079993861978&type=1&theater#!/events/490085511055730/which of course all of us Wiltshire Beauty Queens will be there! I already have my V.I.P ticket and it's not one to be missed! Live music, cocktails, food, circus acts, dancers and many more, so proud of my fellow Miss Swindon organising a fab event!

End of the month is payday so no excuses! See you there!! :)

All things bright and sparkles

With less than 2 weeks to go until the Europe PERFECT final's and it's finally sinking in that pageant season has truly begun! First of all some exciting news with my fellow beauty queens is that this image (shot by Cal-Tristan Photographic) will be on the front of Kiss Gyms very soon! Right next to the door! Amazing to see what we will look like and exciting every time someone drives past they will see Team Wiltshire! This was just a mess around shot which produced great results! I also had another photo shoot with Cal-Tristan Photographic which I have to say the images are just too good! Funny as well as serious. I love that I can have fun on a shoot and still get some creditable shots to use.

Me and Miss Swindon Ela Good also helped raise funds for Tots4Cots at the Swindon Fightclub, where we also got to go in the ring to help draw the raffle and see some amazing fights! Shows that Swindon has diverse talent and can exceed in everything! We enjoyed the V.I.P treatment and even the cool magician who i am still confludded by!

Pageant season offically started for Team Wiltshire with Miss Charity Heart which was helping raise fund  for the British Heart Foundation. Myself, Georgia (Miss Wiltshire Galaxy), Ruth (Miss Wiltshire), Ela (Miss Swindon) and Steph (Miss Wiltshire finalist) all travelled up north to compete and help raise some funds! It was an eventful trip up and I love pageant days as you meet long lost friends you haven't seen in months and get to dress up in sparkles! There was three rounds, the first being the "This is me" round which represented you. I made a skirt out of BHF Charity bags, teamed with sequins, sequins, sequins! I chose this because I am quite eco, and always try and reuse everything, epically when it comes to clothes! I am not shy to shop from a charity shop and was brought up in hand me downs (although i was the second oldest so not that bad and sisters usually steal clothes from one another). I also love Swishing (clothes swapping). The second was the red round which I wore a lispy red dress with a detachable low train from Stardust boutique, to change a normal dress into pageant dress! I also had a chance to wear my new pageant shoes which are super high and for once don't have an ankle strap! No falling over though so saved the comedy for another day. The final round which every pageant must have is the evening dress round. I wore my trusty yellow Stardust boutique in which i won Miss Swindon and I think people are tired of seeing that yellow dress!! But since I know have short hair, it deserved another outing! I loved being on the stage and so happy to compete with my fellow friends!

Although I did not place, Georgia won the whole thing at her first pageant and Ruth came second! So Wiltshire took the whole Miss! I recieved some good feedback from the scores and will know what to imporve on for PERFECT! Couldn;t resist getting what is going to be our trademark "W" sign for Wiltshire! I know its cheesy but these girls really are my best freinds, and amazing that we all met through pageants. We've been through our ups and downs, helping our personal lifes, holidaying together and raising awareness of charities and the psotive side of pageants!

On the subject of friendship, Georgia competed in Miss Galaxy England representing Wiltshire last weekend, and of course us sister queens travelled the  400 odd miles there and back, getting 3 hours sleep for work the next day but all worth it to support our best friend! And she did amazing!! Won Publicity Queen which we knew she would, after attending so many appearances together and taking the title into her own. Now everyone knows who Miss Wiltshire Galaxy is! She also placed top 15 out of 60 girls, I am so proud of her and everything she has achieved! She should of won! ;) I competed in Galaxy two years ago representing Swindon and it's amazing to see the pageant grow and the crowns are amazing! Watching the finals made me realise how much I love pageants and can't believe I was ever going to give them up for someone! Me and Ruth were naming familiar girls, what pageant make their dress was and picking our top 5! makes me more determined to place at Europe's Perfect and try and bring it back for Wiltshire! All my outfits are ready, I am being trained by the amazing Nick Tuckett and Adam York of Kiss Gyms, looking after my diet and being helped with advice from all my pageant friends! Ready to ROCK that PERFECT stage. Wish me luck!!!

Twitter: Englandperfectm