VIDEO: Blackpool beauty queen Joanna wins the crown at world pageant

Joanna Johnson, left, crowned Miss Galaxy at the world competition in Orlando

Miss North England Joanna Johnson, 25, shed tears of joy at the Miss Galaxy pageant in Orlando last week, where she was crowned the winner ahead of runners up: Miss England, Miss Massachusetts, Miss Scotland and Miss Texas.

She will now spend the year travelling to various beauty pageants around the world to promote the show as the official Miss Galaxy 2019.

She said: “It’s a sisterhood. Once you’re in that family it’s a family for life. It’s a group of women who support other women from all different cultural backgrounds.

“Everyone was so lovely. Everyone always asks if it’s really competitive but it’s not. Everyone helps each other.”

Joanna, a hairdresser from Norbreck, first started competing in beauty pageants at the age of 18 to boost her confidence.

As well as winning the Miss Galaxy crown overall, she also took first place in the evening wear fashion category.

She said: “It hasn’t quite sunk in yet. I’ve ben having people calling me Miss Galaxy. It’s surreal.

“I’ll promote the Galaxy name at as many events as I can. I’ll travel to other Galaxy pageants in Australia and Texas.

“I’m hoping I can achieve a lot of what I want to do in the upcoming year.

“I started when I was 18 but I have been competing in Galaxy for the last two yearsa. I’ve lost my fair share, but you have to go through that to make you a stronger person. Everything happens for a reason.”