A carpenter will swap her saw, power tools and steel toe-capped boots for a ball gown and high heels – after becoming a Miss England finalist.
Saoire Palmer, 20, spends her days working on houses on building sites as a locksmith and carpenter helping construct kitchens, doors and wardrobes.
She got into woodwork by chance aged 14 after being forced to go to a workshop for her Year 10 work experience – but immediately fell in love with the craft.
And she will now throw down her tools for tiaras when she takes to the catwalk in a bid to be crowned Miss London later this year.
Saoire, of Romford, England, says she wants to use her newfound platform as a beauty queen to inspire other women to take up jobs in male-dominated industries.
She said: “It’s good to get out there as a woman in the trade to show people I can do the girly pageant stuff and be on the building site the next day.
“It’s a little bit daunting to catwalk, I’ve been practicing a lot. I’m used to wearing steel-toe caps every day, not high heels.
“It’s all quite random, I’ve never done anything to do with modeling. I’ve been in the building trade since I was 14, so this is all new to me.
“I want my own business, if I was to win, I would set up my own carpentry business. I just always clicked with it and have my heart set on it.
“I had to go on work experience in school, I was quite a girly girl. They put me down in this workshop, I loved it, I was making figures out of wood.
“The guy there offered me a job at the weekends at 14. It’s a good trade and a good skill to have.
“I’ve recently moved into a house with a daughter, I’ve saved myself thousands doing it myself.
“It’s good to inspire other women to do the same. It’s a male-dominated environment, so it’s nice to show that it doesn’t matter.”
The mom-of-one will compete against 20 other women in a new make-up-free Miss London event in September in what will be her first-ever beauty pageant.
She has been watching YouTube videos and walking in front of her mirror to practice for her important catwalk on the big night of the final.
Saoire, who recently finished her Level 2 carpentry qualification, added: “There are two Miss England contests they’re holding, the bare face Miss London and the FabUK.
“It’s the finals in both. I haven’t been in anything like this before, it’s all new to me. I am excited.”
“I’ve got a positive feeling, I’m feeling enthusiastic. The fact I’m in the finals I’m so proud. It would be unreal to represent the UK if I won Miss England.
“I’ve just been trying to watch YouTube videos and on TikTok for advice on how to catwalk.
“I’ve been walking in front of my mirror, I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do. I’ve been getting my friends to rate my walks.
“It’s so good that people won’t be wearing makeup.
“There’s no filters, it’s promoting the actual look and gives a lot of girls more confidence.”
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
Edited by Saba Fatima and Asad Ali
