A Belfast woman on the new series of the BBC dating show with a difference 'Beauty Queen and Single' has shared how the experience has empowered a new side of her.
Marketing manager Emma Leckie is one of the four women featured on the third series of the NI dating show that sees contestants show their natural beauty as they go on dates.
The 28-year-old, who is also a micro-influencer and content creator, told Belfast Live how she has been touched by the support since appearing on the show and is honoured to show women that they are beautiful in whatever way they want to present themselves.
Read more: Beauty Queen And Single coming back on our screens
Emma said: "I have always been an advocate for female empowerment, when my friend sent me the application for the show at first I wasn’t sure it was something I could ever do.
"I knew the show would completely push me out of my comfort zone as I suffer with social anxiety and I wanted to challenge myself to overcome this."
"It felt really scary but I wanted to be brave because I believed in what the show represented."
Emma is no stranger to the camera and loves to share her life on social media but it was the strong message behind Beauty Queen and Single that really inspired her to take on this new challenge.
"To me, the show is about removing barriers and potential stereotypes by taking off what I would call our 'armor' to show what's really behind it.
"I thought it would be a great show for young women, as with the work I do on Instagram I am always flooded with messages from young girls, and I wanted to show minus the filters, good angles and glam makeup I have my own insecurities like everyone else and may not be as polished as you would think from seeing my pictures," she explained.
Emma knew taking her dating life onto the small screen would be "tough" but wanted to break down her comfort zone and open herself up to a unique opportunity.
She continued: "I knew the show was going to be tough for me as many wouldn't think from seeing the confident person I portray on my Instagram but I can actually be really shy, especially in groups of people.
"So I found the show at the start really daunting and feared I would get lost in the background being a little on the quieter side compared to the other girls.
"Having cameras in your face whilst on a first date was so unnatural, I am weird enough as it is on a first date never mind with a whole cast team watching.
"However, as the day went on I got more comfortable and came out of my shell and forgot the cameras were there."
Emma added: "The no makeup part of the show was the biggest challenge, however, my parents and I have both received so many kind messages from people which has been really overwhelming but in the best way.
"It's nice to know the show resonated with so many people and many other girls feel the same, we are all human at the end of the day but I guess it's about learning to accept your flaws as they are what makes you you.
"I have always said all the fakery 'makeup, hair extensions, lashes, nails botox and fillers' etc I do for me and not for the male gaze, I still stand by that I genuinely do it to make myself feel good.
"The takeaway I have from the show is it's nice to have a balance but at the same time if you're doing it for you to feel good then I think that's empowering in itself."
Her advice for other women who maybe do not feel confident in showing off the natural side of themselves is that showing vulnerability is not showing weakness and people will love you for "the real you".
"I suffered a lot of insecurity from school days and comparing myself and I am not going to lie and say that's all magically disappeared but the show has helped me see no one else sees the 'flaws' I see they see, they see them as part of what makes me me.
"And we all just need to stop being so hard on ourselves.
"Lastly I really want young girls to know Instagram isn't real, pictures are edited and no one looks that perfect so just remember that next time you are scrolling through and doubting your beauty. We are all beautiful in our own way and I am slowly learning that."
You can watch all episodes of Beauty Queen and Single on BBC iPlayer
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