28 stunning pictures which celebrate the best of Miss Blackpool - empowering women through the 90s and 00s

They capture precious memories of joy and elation but it was never an easy process. It took heat after heat of auditions to land a coveted spot in the grand finals - it was always a tense and emotional time.

At the height of their success, Blackpool's natural beach side location gave prominence as a key place to host decades of beauty contests.

Although their popularity has dipped since the aspiring days which attracted hundreds of entrants, the contests are still going strong, acting as springboards to launch careers with a shift from simply who's the prettiest to celebrating personal achievement. Miss Blackpool, Miss Great Britain and other beauty contests continue to empower women to be their absolute best.

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