Jade's bid to win crown aids charity

Miss Blackpool International Jade Hall, making her first appearance at the Showzam festival at the Winter Gardens

And not only that, but she hopes to raise awareness of a medical condition she was recently diagnosed with herself – coeliac disease.

The 24-year-old, of Thornton, is the current Miss Blackpool International and will take part in the UK Power Pageant, on June 10 and 11, at the Park Hall Hotel, in Chorley.

If she was to win, she would be crowned Miss International UK and would go through to the grand finals to compete with girls from across the globe for the title of Miss  International.

As part of the contest, she has been busy raising money for the competition’s chosen charity, The Christie Charitable Fund – which supports the work of The Christie cancer treatment centre in  Manchester.

Jade, who works as a special support assistant at a school, said: “I’ve taken part in the Miss Blackpool competition for the last two years and really enjoyed it.

“I really got the bug for  being in pageants.

“I had seen the Power Pageant on Facebook and decided to enter and couldn’t believe when I heard I had got through to the final.

“I am very proud and excited to be representing  Blackpool.

“I love doing the fundraising and things in the community. And I absolutely love my job, I love supporting people with additional needs.

“I have been in that situation myself, as the high school I went to was a specialist for dyslexia, so I have some understanding and am really passionate about it.

“I also work as a singer at weekends, so I have been collecting for the charity while performing and got about £150 a week.

“I’ve been working for charity shops – Trinity Hospice and Brian House. They are amazing places. If I was lucky enough to win, I would want to raise money for Trinity Hospice.

“I’m holding a pizza party for friends and family to raise money for The Christie.

“With being a singer, I’m used to being up onstage, but have found these competitions really do boost your confidence. They’re not just about looks and they give you different experiences.”

The final in June will be made up of a whole weekend of activities, including a boot-camp and fitness test, afternoon tea, pyjama party, photo shoots and interviews with the judges and a catwalk show.

Former Red Rose School pupil Jade has been working hard to prepare for the event, including on her fitness.

She said: “I run three or four times a week and do lots of sit-ups.

“I was recently diagnosed with coeliac disease, so I am having to look at what I eat and try to be healthy.

“If I was to win, I would like to raise awareness of this condition as I don’t think many people understand it.

“It is life-changing.”

* To find out more about the pageant or to support Jade, visit www.internationalpageantsuk.com