As a petrolhead mechanic, she's usually busy repairing people's broken down motors. But this month, Rachel Himsworth will temporarily drop her tools for something much more glamorous.
The 25-year-old made the Miss England finals as a 'wild card' entry. And by competing in the national beauty pageant, Rachel hopes to inspire more women to take up jobs in traditionally male-dominated industries.
Rachel, of Monk Bretton in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, said: “One of the reasons I entered the Miss England competition is to inspire women and prove to people that you can do both – be a model and a car mechanic. I just want to encourage women and show them they can do anything they put their minds to."
Rachel started working as a car mechanic straight aged 16 and now repairs vehicles at a Ford dealership. But becoming a beauty queen was another dream.
She entered the Miss England competition after seeing it advertised on Instagram a few months ago. And next weekend she will compete against 45 other girls in the bare face, beach swimwear and beautiful hair rounds of the final.
"I’ve always been interested in modelling but never knew how to get into it," she said. “I saw it online and thought I'd try my chances and apply - the next thing I knew I had made it to the finals.
"I found out I got through to the final a few weeks ago. t’s come completely out of the blue but I’m very excited.
"People at work were quite shocked and taken back when I first said I was competing but they have all been very supportive. I look very different at work to what I do when competing in Miss England.
"As a car mechanic, I wear work trousers a jumper and no makeup but when competing I wear makeup and dresses. I really enjoying the makeup aspect of it all."
She added: "But I love being a mechanic, cars are something I’ve always been interested in since a young age. I really enjoy my jobs and fixing the cars.
“I did work experience at school at 15, and then did an apprenticeship at 16. Then worked my up that way. I’ve been doing this for nine or ten years now. I suppose it is quite different but it's all I've ever known so it's quite normal to me."
Rachel is taking part in the two-day Miss England 2022 final, sponsored by Dentakay, at the Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport on October 16 and 17. The winner will represent England at the 71st Miss World final in December.
