A nurse who has been battling long Covid for two years has bounced back - to reach the semi-finals of Miss England. Sophie Lewthwaite, 26, says she is hoping to use her voice to "raise awareness of invisible conditions and show people they are never alone".
The NHS worker, from Kendal, Cumbria, was unable to leave the house for a year after catching Covid in April 2020. But, in August of this year, she is travelling down to London for the semi-finals of the prestigious Miss England competition.
Sophie said she feels like she has been "walking through mud for two years" and, despite being less severe, her symptoms are still very much apparent. She said: "The first four weeks I was completely bedridden and felt like I was having a heart attack for at least two months.
"My chest pains landed me in hospital several times and I experienced over twenty different symptoms. I was not able to walk for more than 20 meters at a time and did not leave the house for a year."
Sophie has been suffering with a range of symptoms since contracting Covid, including loss of memory, exhaustion and loss of hair. After suffering for a year, Sophie decided to join a long Covid national network - where she has been attending virtual meetings since May 2021.
She then made the decision to apply for Miss England after seeing many of the women as role models. She said she wants to use the competition as a platform way to "tell her story and give back".
Sophie said: "Miss England is a fantastic organisation. They've raised a lot for charity and brought about awareness of what means the most to them and I realised if I could do something similar why not! When something happens to you it makes you realise what is really important - and if I can be a part of a great organisation and give back to the community I will."
Sophie says she used to be an avid sportswomen with a particular interest in running - but admits she now struggles to walk more than 1.2 miles. But she is an avid believer in Miss England's ethos "raising money through beauty with a purpose" and is "humbled" to have been selected as a wild card the semi-finals of the competition.
She added: "The whole thing has been traumatic and very challenging mentally and physically. Everyone's experience of long Covid is completely different - so I decided I wanted to do Miss England for people that have invisible conditions in general. I think it's an honour I've made it this far".
Sophie is taking part in the Miss England 2022 semi-finals, which are sponsored by Dentakay, at the Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites later this year. Sophie will be competing for a place in the Miss England grand final, which takes place in October 2022.
If Sophie wins that, she will represent England at the 71st Miss World final - and could win $100,000 (£80,000) Voting for the Miss England semi-final will open on July 21.
