When Lindsey Bamborough attended Newcastle Ladies' Day with her husband last year she never imagined that the event would change her life.
The mum-of-two from Woolsington had been struggling with her confidence after spending years caring for her son Connor, 11, who has an undiagnosed brain condition. But a rare day out at Newcastle Ladies' Day became a "turning point" for Lindsey after she was named best dressed at the event wearing a £19 spotty dress that left judges impressed.
And they weren't the only ones, with Newcastle model agency SALT Model Management offering Lindsey a modelling contract shortly after the event and urging her to apply for the Ms Great Britain pageant.
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"I had lost my way a little bit and lost my sparkle and had been trying really hard to get my style and mojo back," Linsdey said.
"I went to Newcastle Ladies' Day with my husband last year and I won best dressed which was just amazing and so unexpected.
"That was a massive turning point for me. Off the back of that, I got a modeling contract at the grand age of 43 with Salt Model Management in Newcastle.
"The owner of the model agency is actually the compere at Miss Great Britain. He said, 'I think you are exactly what the competition is looking for.'
"I thought you had to be under 30 and unmarried with no children, but in 2020 the pageant changed and they introduced two new categories - Ms GB for any woman between the ages of 30 to 44 and a Ms GB classic for women aged 45 plus. So instead of having one winner, they have three winners representing different age groups for women."
After taking the plunge and entering, Lindsey has now been named a Ms Great Britain 2023 finalist and is set to compete in the final in Leicester in October. Husband Chris, 57, an off-shore construction manager, and sons, Connor, and Flynn, three, will be there to cheer on Linsdey as she models a fashion outfit, swimwear, and ball gown in front of judges.
Lindsey, who works as a makeup artist, hopes to win the title to make her children proud and show other women they can achieve their dreams.
She said: "I want to show women that if I can go from being in the house all the time with a disabled child and not having the confidence to see people, to then get back on track, win best dressed at ladies' day, and then win Ms GB at 43 - so can they.
"To win would mean that the last 11 years have been really worthwhile and strengthened me as a person and given me the confidence to do this. I want to wow my sons and be a role model to them.
"There are so many women in this position and I would also like to show them what they can do."
Lindsey, who is being sponsored by facilities management firm, FM4U, will be raising money for the pageant's official charities, Cancer Research UK and Alex’s Wish - Cure Duchenne. The devoted mum will also be supporting causes close to her heart including the Percy Hedley School which her son attends.
To donate visit: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/unite/miss-great-britain-2023 or https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/MsGB2023
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